Arapahoe County's New Public Health Order: What To Know

Amber Fisher
Updated ·2 min read

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — An emergency public health order was issued Friday in Arapahoe County amid a spike in coronavirus cases, officials said.

Many of the new cases have been linked to private gatherings, according to the Tri-County Health Department. Some of the new cases may also be linked to the places where patients are employed, health officials said.

Over the past week, 816 new cases have been reported in Arapahoe County, according to the latest public health data.

Under the new emergency order, all alcohol sales at restaurants and bars in the county will end at 11 p.m. instead of midnight. Previously, private gatherings were capped at 25 people — under the new order, that limit has been reduced to 10 people.

The new order also requires nonessential, office-based businesses to increase their telecommuting.

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Arapahoe County's new order is scheduled to expire Nov. 1, unless it's extended, officials said.

"I know it gets old and that everyone has COVID fatigue, but there is strong reason to believe that infection could further spread and hospitalizations increase as we move further into the fall and winter," said John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health Department.

"There will be light at the end of the tunnel as new vaccines become available, and we just cannot let our guard down yet."

Over the past week, 6,841 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Colorado, according to public health data.

Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties could see a shift in the state's COVID-19 Dial if their numbers don't drop soon:

Image courtesy of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Image courtesy of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

On the state's dial, Arapahoe County is at Safer at Home Level 1. Moving to Level 2 would trigger a range of new restrictions:

  • Tighter capacity limits for offices, businesses, restaurants and houses of worship;

  • Stricter limits on group sports, gyms and bars

  • Tighter restrictions for some outdoor activities.

"No one wants to see our communities and economy return to the widespread shutdowns we had this past spring," said Nancy Sharpe, Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners Chair.

"If we implement these mitigation measures now, we may be able to reverse these trends. It's up to everyone to continue to do their part to stop the spread of the virus."

This article originally appeared on the Littleton Patch