Denver’s COVID-19 case numbers have been rising for three consecutive weeks, similar to spikes we have seen around Colorado as well as around the world. Denver’s average daily case rate is the highest it has ever been. Data concerning hospitalizations and testing positivity rates are also heading in the wrong direction.
Currently, 1 in 250 Coloradans are infectious with COVID-19, according to Governor Polis at today’s press conference.
These developments have led Denver’s Department of Public Health to release two new public health orders, effective immediately through Monday November 16.
- First, a tougher mask mandate is now in effect in Denver that requires you to wear a face covering in more settings. Face coverings are now required in all outdoor settings in addition to indoor settings. The outdoor requirement does not apply if you are outside alone, or with those in your household. For example, if you take a walk alone, the mandate does not apply. But if you take a walk with friends outside of your household, everyone must wear a face covering and in Winston Downs because we encounter others, masks are needed even if walking alone.
Organized athletic programming, such as college football or youth soccer, is also exempt due to the fact that these activities already have mandated regulations helping keep these activities safe.
- Second, a reduced gathering order is now in effect until Monday, November 16. This order reduces the number of people from different households who are allowed to gather in both public and private settings from 10 to 5 people. This order does apply in residential settings, but it does not apply to families with more than 5 people. For example, if your household has 3 people living in it, a maximum of only two people from another household are allowed to visit. If your household already contains 5 or more people, no additional people are allowed to visit.
Notably, restaurant settings, classrooms, and other instances where gatherings of more than 5 are specifically allowed are exempt from this order. For example, 10 people from different households may continue to sit together at a restaurant because this activity falls under the State public health orders, where restaurants must already have protective criteria in place—such as only being able to take off face coverings when seated and specific sanitation measures. These safeguards don’t exist in unregulated settings, like parks.
These two new regulations will be bolstered by increased enforcement. Denver Public Health and the Department of Safety are working together to proactively monitor all venues that will subject to these new orders. The Department of Safety will increase the number of personnel to proactively check public parks and other common gathering areas. If individuals are congregating in numbers not allowed, or failing to wear a face covering when required, they run the risk of being issued a summons. Department of Safety personnel will also proactively respond to calls, even in residential settings.
If Denver does not reduce cases very quickly, we will see a subsequent order that will further limit capacities for office-based businesses, retail, manufacturing, personal services, limited healthcare settings, restaurants, houses of worship, indoor events, outdoor events, organized sports, gyms, and outdoor guided activities.
Please stay home as much as possible in the coming weeks, continue to wear your mask and socially distance, and please pass this information on to help keep our City on track.
Click here to see how Colorado is doing fighting the virus, and click here for a Denver dashboard. Visit Denver’s testing web page for updated info about community-based sites and hours. For more information and to read the latest update to Denver’s public health orders, visit www.denvergov.org/covid19.