Stay-At-Home Orders To Expire For Denver & Metro Area Counties

Starting Saturday, May 9, all Denver Metro counties will be out from under stay-at-home orders and in the Safer At Home phase.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock spoke about plans for his city and county while Tri-County Health will lift the stay-at-home order for Adams and Arapahoe counties. Jefferson county and Broomfield county will similarly move to Safer At Home.

"We have a consensus among the Metro area's public health experts that we can now begin the phased approach to lifting Denver's stay-at-home order," Mayor Hancock said. "The data we're seeing and guidance from public health experts, we feel comfortable not extending Denver's stay-at-home order May 8th and starting the phased reopening of our city beginning Saturday, May 9th."

Mayor Hancock said Denver residents can expect the following:

--A mask order beginning on Wednesday, May 6:

• Who are over the age of 3 except for those with a medical condition that would prevent them from doing so.
• Residents and employees while inside of or waiting in line to get inside of certain businesses or locations including any retail or commercial business, their common areas and enclosed spaces like an elevator, any government building where essential public functions are taking place, at a bus stop, on the bus or in a ride share or car-for-hire and facilities offering health care.
• You do not need to wear a mask if you're out for a walk, exercising outdoors or driving in your care.

Mayor Hancock said starting Sat., May 9, Denver is aligning with Governor Polis' statewide Safer At Home guidelines, including:

• Businesses ramping up to maximum 50% on-site workforce and a minimum of six feet distance between employees.
• Retails businesses with only 50% of their employees on-site and six feet of physical distance between customers.
• Hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, pet groomers and personal trainers with 10 or fewer people in a single location or maximum of 50% occupancy, whichever is less, by appointment only, with no walk-ins and strict requirements for PPE and physical distancing.
• Eye doctor, chiropractor or other limited health care facilities with 10 or fewer people in a single location or maximum of 50% occupancy, whichever is less, by appointment only, with no walk-ins.
• Services that must be done on-site, such as real estate showings or college tours.

Businesses need to have several protective measures in place:

• Employees and customers should start to see things like special hours for vulnerable populations.
• Six feet of physical distancing between people.
• Symptom and temperature checks.
• Frequent disinfecting of common areas.

"While we are excited to see parts of Denver's economy start up again on Saturday, I want to remind everyone that many establishments will remain closed for the time being," the mayor said. "These include restaurants and bars, except for curbside pick-up and delivery, movie theaters, live performance theaters and concert venues, stadiums and arenas, gyms, yoga and fitness studios with limited exceptions, those stores on the inside of malls that don't have outdoor public entrances and exits, outdoor recreation facilities such as children's playgrounds and tennis and basketball courts and city recreation centers and libraries."

"As per state order, large gatherings of more than ten people will still be prohibited through May 26th," Mayor Hancock said.

The mayor said the city of Denver projects to have at least a $180 million dollar shortfall due to the coronavirus crisis.

"We're going to have to make some tough decisions when it comes to our budget and general fund."

Mayor Hancock said he has urged Colorado's congressional delegation to include money for cities and states in the next round of federal stimulus relief.

Mayor Hancock's full remarks are below, including comments from members of his COVID-19 response team, including:

--Bob McDonald, Executive Director of the Denver Dept. of Public Health and Environment

--Dr. Connie Price, Chief Medical Officer of Denver Health

--Matt Mueller, Interim Director, Department of Emergency Operations and Management