Wednesday, three Denver Metro Health Departments issued a public health stay-at-home order that effect five more Denver area counties.
Tri-County Health (Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties), Boulder County Health and Jefferson County Health issued the order in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Broomfield county is encouraging residents to abide by social distancing guidelines and also encouraging all residents to stay home for all but essential activities.
The order goes into effect on Thursday, March 26 at 8 a.m. MDT through Friday, April 17 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
The order requires residents to stay-at-home except for certain essential activities or work. Please consult the exact order of your county for the exemptions.
Please check the links below for comprehensive information and exact language from each county, including exemptions to the orders.
Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director of Tri-County Health, hosted a teleconference on Wednesday morning.
Posted on: March 25, 2020
Three Metro Denver Public Health Departments Issue Stay-At-Home Order
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Three Metro Denver Public Health Departments Issue Stay-At-Home Orders to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Jefferson County, Colo.— Three public health departments serving more than 2 million residents across the Metro Denver region joined together to issue Stay-At-Home Public Health Orders in their counties today, effective March 26 at 8:00 a.m. until April 17 at 11:59 p.m. unless officials determine it is in the interest of public health to expire at an earlier date and time. The departments include Boulder County Public Health, Jefferson County Public Health and Tri-County Health Department (which serves Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties).
“There is widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the Metro Denver area, and we must take bold actions to stop the spread of this virus,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, executive director of Tri-County Health Department. “With each passing day, we run a growing risk of greater transmission and illness and quickly overwhelming our hospitals, which are really a resource for our entire region and state. When this happens, not everyone may get the care they need. It’s a real possibility in Colorado — and a situation which has already occurred in countries such as Italy — and which is threatening to happen in major U.S. cities in other areas of our country. We understand the toll that measures to address the pandemic are having on our communities, and we want to reassure residents that this step is temporary, and a critical one to get us closer to recovery.”
These Stay-At-Home Orders are in addition to other recently issued public health orders that promote social distancing, such as those from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. While beneficial, we do not believe they have done enough to slow transmission. The Stay-At-Home Orders go a step further by requiring individuals to do their part by staying at home and away from others.
The Public Health Orders require that all people in each county stay at their place of residence, and that they make every effort possible to conduct only essential activities necessary to maintain health and well-being, such as getting groceries, obtaining medical supplies or medication, and/or engaging in outdoor activities like walking, hiking or running while following other social distancing practices.
Work to provide essential business and government services or perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing, is also permitted. People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence except to seek medical care.
“Scientific evidence shows that we must act now, at this stage of the COVID-19 emergency, in order to save lives in the long-run. It will give us the time we need to test comprehensively and to slow the spread of the virus to prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed,” said Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director.
“The virus is easily spread through person-to-person contact, and the risk of transmission is much greater when people are in close proximity,” said Dr. Mark B. Johnson, Jefferson County Public Health executive director. “This order will help protect everyone in our community by ensuring social distancing measures are followed. By taking this action now, we can start to flatten the pandemic curve.”
Examples of Activities Permitted and Not Permitted Under the Stay-At-Home Orders*
PERMITTED
- Getting medical care for you, a family member or your pet
- Visiting a health care professional
- Getting medical supplies or medication
- Going to get groceries, food (via takeout, drive-thru, food banks/pantries) or other essential household items
- Getting supplies to work from home
- Picking up materials from your child’s school needed for distance learning (tablet, books)
- Going outside for physical activity, as long as you stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not in your household and follow social distancing practices
- Going to work, ONLY if you provide essential products or services at an essential business (health care operations, infrastructure operations and maintenance, certain government functions)
NOT PERMITTED
- In-person public or private gatherings of any size with people outside of your residence
- Traveling, except to get or provide essential services or medical care
- Carpooling with anyone outside of your residence
*This is not a comprehensive list. Please refer to the orders for a complete list of essential activities and services, as well as social distancing requirements.
During the stay-at-home period, we encourage our communities to stay connected with one another and take steps to maintain health and well-being. Here are some ideas:
- Call or video chat with friends, neighbors and family.
- Go for a walk outside, but keep at least 6 feet away from others.
- Plan a family game night with people who already live in your home.
- Read a good book, listen to music or stream a favorite show.
- Cook a healthy meal.
- Get a head-start on spring cleaning.
- Do arts and crafts — get creative and use what’s available in your home.
For more information about COVID-19 and resources availability in your community:
From the City and County of Broomfield:
The City and County of Broomfield is issuing a Public Health Order requiring social distancing and encouraging all Broomfield residents to stay home for all but essential activities. The order is effective at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 26 through midnight, April 17, however, the city and county is prepared to act swiftly to implement a more stringent Shelter in Place Order that will impact all residents and businesses in Broomfield, if necessary. Read Broomfield’s Public Health Order . This is an enhancement to the Governor’s Executive Order requiring non-critical workplaces to reduce their in-person workforce by 50 percent to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“The time is now to take immediate action to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our residents,” said Public Health Director Jason Vahling says “If we don’t act now to flatten the curve, there will be severe consequences to our most vulnerable residents, community members, and the hospital system.”
The order encourages residents to stay home as much as possible, and when you do leave, it requires you to practice social distancing recommendations to keep at least six feet between yourself and others, avoid gatherings outside of your immediate household, and practice best possible hygiene.
Broomfield is deploying a team of 25 employees to encourage compliance throughout Broomfield in City and County vehicles from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. wearing identifiable vests. Playgrounds will be cordoned off and signs will be posted at the parks and amenities that are closed to slow the spread of the virus. It’s important for the community to band together, look out for one another and for parents to have conversations with their children about expected social distancing behaviors. All residents must do their part to flatten the curve of spread.
“In all my years in law enforcement, I have never seen anything quite like this. It is an unparalleled time for law enforcement agencies across the country,” Chief of Police Gary Creager said. “We are here for our residents and we will do whatever it takes to keep our community safe. That being said, we can’t do this alone. It’s up to all of us to do our part to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and the entire Broomfield community. By following this order, our officers will be able to focus their efforts on protecting the community from crime and staying healthy, not policing the gatherings of people who choose not to stay home.”
While, group activities like practices, playdates, and cook-outs are off the table, see other ways to self-distance in Broomfield , to include taking a walk on Broomfield’s 300 plus miles of trails, learning to code online, creating a neighborhood solar system, or taking a virtual field trip.
What’s Open? (with social distancing)
City and County Open Space
308 Miles of Trails, Bike Lanes and 8-foot sidewalks
City and County Parks without shared equipment
Take-out at local restaurants
Dog Parks
What’s Closed?
Playgrounds
Pickleball Courts
Tennis Courts
Pavilions
Bike Parks
Frisbee Golf Courses
Athletic Fields
“Now more than ever, we’re asking Broomfield residents to step up and do their part,” said City and County Manager Jennifer Hoffman. “My hope is Broomfield can set the bar high, showing how a community can come together to protect one another with the same love for our neighbors that we do for our own families. By following this order you're putting the health of others above all else and I have faith our residents will step up to the challenge - knowing Broomfield will come out of this crisis healthier, wiser, and stronger - together.”