PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER 20-36

COVID-19 DIAL

November 2, 2020

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Link to full Public Health Order (PHO): https://bit.ly/34RwMft

 

THIS IS A RAPIDLY EVOLVING AND FLUID SITUATION.  INFORMATION AND ACTION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.  BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND PATIENT.

The situations, numbers, website links, data, and etc. described below were current as of Tuesday 11/3/2020 at 10:43 am.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

11/3/2020 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #2:  COVID-19 Dial Public Health Order

Please take the time to read and understand this entire message.

Internet links:  Before I send out each update, I check the links to make sure they are active.  However, links do change from time to time, so the links I sent out today may not be the same tomorrow.  You may have to search around a bit.

Hello again!  Yesterday the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released a new Public Health Order (PHO) with streamlined guidance and clarification on the COVID-19 Dial framework. The new PHO is similar to past orders, but integrates Protect Our Neighbors, Safer at Home, and Stay at Home orders together, and it makes a series of technical updates requested by stakeholders. It went into effect at midnight, November 3rd, 2020.

The most significant changes of this new PHO are as follows:         

1.      Updates the dial levels to be identified by color by removing the numbers from the Safer-At-Home levels. This change is intended to be more easily understood by Coloradans already accustomed to existing color-coded warning systems.    

2.      Limits gatherings to no more than 10 from no more than 2 households for levels Blue, Yellow, and Orange, and prohibits gatherings for Red.

3.      Specifies that places of worship do not need to use the spacing calculator for seated events, consistent with other sector guidance, in all Safer at Home levels. Seated parishioners should be at least 6 feet apart from other households.   

4.      Emphasizes that outdoor worship is always permitted.

5.      Changes indoor event guidance in Level Orange: Safer at Home, High Risk to be 25% of posted occupancy limit or 50 people, whichever is fewer.

6.      Changes outdoor event guidance in Level Orange: Safer at Home, High Risk to be 25% of posted occupancy limit or 75 people, whichever is fewer.

7.      Includes in-person learning for preschool through grade 12 schools as part of the “Critical Business” definition. This clarifies that local districts are able to make determinations on how to structure the format of education based on local factors.

8.      Finalizes transportation guidance to emphasize the requirement to wear a mask and practice physical distancing while on public transportation.     

9.      Defines Stay at Home requirements, clarifying that at this level most activities are significantly curtailed, only allowed in outdoor environments, or prohibited, and noncritical businesses are closed for in-person work or services.

10.  What are the capacity restrictions at each level?  Go here to find out:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wpq8MrsvtY0_jW07mWCLmVXtv4P_wFR2/view

Hang in there, we will make it through this!

Richard Ritter, Executive Director

Otero County Health Department

13 West 3rd Street, Room 111

La Junta, Colorado 81050

719-383-3045 (Office)

719-383-3060 (Fax)

rritter@oterogov.org

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