EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — According to the latest announcement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, El Paso County will not move to the state’s new Level Red on Friday. County leaders support keeping the current restrictions.
El Paso County Commission Chair Mark Waller says it takes time to see the impacts of the county’s latest restrictions, which took effect on November 13. He believes COVID-19 cases are decreasing as a result of El Paso County moving to Level Yellow two weeks ago and then Level Orange on Friday.
“I can tell you in El Paso County, I’ve had many discussions with the department of public health and the hospitals,” Waller said. “We just do not think that that’s something that needs to happen at this time.”
However, 15 other counties in Colorado will move to the state’s new Level Red on Friday. Red is now the last level on the state’s new COVID-19 dial before a stay-at-home order. It closes indoor dining at restaurants, puts an end to county variances, and makes the last call for alcohol at 8 p.m.
Under Level Red, gyms can operate at 10% capacity and reservations are required. Indoor seated places of worship and life rites will be capped at 25% capacity or a maximum of 50 people. Governor Jared Polis says the new Level Red is meant to keep as many people at home as possible, while also keeping the economy somewhat open.
Still, Waller thinks there are many businesses that wouldn’t survive restrictions that severe. He went on to say the data doesn’t indicate businesses are to blame.
“Health officials have done a deep-dive into the data to determine where these increasing numbers are coming from,” Waller said. “It’s not coming from restaurants. We think that maybe people are doing things correctly when they’re out in public, but then they’re going home and having gatherings at home. We think that’s maybe where the spread is occurring.”
Waller thinks the state got its recommendations for schools right, though. Level Red suggests elementary school students should go to school in-person. Middle school is suggested to take place either in-person, hybrid, or online, and high schools would be encouraged to teach either hybrid or remote. Though several local school districts say staffing shortages and quarantines have forced them to transition into e-learning already.
Colorado's new Level Red restrictions take effect on Friday. CDPHE has notified the following counties that they will move to Level Red on Friday, November 20:
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Clear Creek
- Denver
- Douglas
- Jefferson
- La Plata
- Logan
- Mesa
- Morgan
- Routt
- Summit
- Washington
CDPHE has notified the following counties that they will move to Level Orange on Friday, November 20:
- Costilla
- Custer
- Lake
- Montezuma
- Pitkin
- San Juan
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November 18, 2020 at 09:22AM
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El Paso County will keep current COVID-19 restrictions - KRDO
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