More than 20 Colorado counties are moving to Level Red. What does that mean for you?

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On Friday, November 20, 15 counties in Colorado will be moving to Level Red on the state’s COVID-19 dial dashboard:

The counties are:

  • Adams
  • Arapahoe
  • Boulder
  • Broomfield
  • Clear Creek
  • Denver
  • Douglas
  • Jefferson
  • La Plata
  • Logan
  • Mesa
  • Morgan
  • Routt
  • Summit
  • Washington

On Sunday, November 22, at least five more counties will be added to the list:

  • Alamosa
  • Otero
  • Prowers
  • Pueblo
  • Weld

Level Red was previously the most-restrictive level on the COVID-19 dial dashboard. But on November 17, the state announced a new level: Purple, which indicates “extreme risk” (Level Red is “severe risk”).

No counties have reached Level Purple. To see which color your county is, click here.

Because of the new colors on the dial, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has updated the safety precautions that must be in place at each level.

So, what’s in store for the counties moving to Level Red?

Education

Under Level Red, CDPHE recommends Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms hold in-person instruction. However, some major schools districts, like Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools have announced plans to switch to remote learning for all grades.

“The increasing spread of COVID-19 in the Denver community is causing severe staffing shortages that affect our ability to offer in-person learning for early childhood education programs, in our kindergarten-2nd grade classrooms and in our center programs,” DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova said in a statement.

Restaurants, bars, and dining

Restaurants will be forced to end indoor dining if they are located in a county under Level Red. Those restaurants will still be allowed to offer takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery.

The CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association told Rocky Mountain PBS the end of indoor dining will be “catastrophic” for the restaurant industry.

Outdoor dining will still be permitted, but CDPHE says it must be open-air and groups of diners should be from the same household. Last call for drinks at restaurants will be 8 p.m.

Bars will have to close.

Gyms

Under Level Red, gyms can only operate at 10% capacity. Gym-goers must make reservations to get their workouts in.

Offices and retail

The CDPHE says working from home is “strongly encouraged” for people in Level Red counties. Offices that remain open should only operate at 10% capacity.

As for retail shops, 50% capacity is allowed, but increased curbside pickup and delivery is encouraged, as are dedicated shopping hours for seniors and other high-risk groups.

To explore all of the capacity restrictions at each level on the COVID-19 dial, click here.