*Note: This article was updated on Nov. 19 to reflect an updated timeline on new restrictions. Summit County will be moved into Level Red at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20. Restaurants will be closed to indoor dining beginning 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22. Outdoor dining, take-out and delivery will continue to be allowed. 

Contact: Nicole Valentine, Public Affairs Coordinator, Summit County Public Health

SUMMIT COUNTY – Summit County Public Health will hold a virtual town hall at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, to share the latest information on upcoming public health restrictions. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced Tuesday that it will move Summit County and several other counties to Level Red ("Severe Risk") on the Colorado COVID-19 Dial Framework. The Level Red restrictions will take effect at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20. Indoor dining at bars and restaurants will be prohibited beginning 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22.

The state's move is in response to alarming rates of spread of COVID-19 in Summit County. The local two-week COVID-19 incidence rate is 1,068 positive cases per 100,000 people, relative to a goal of 75 cases per 100,000 or lower; our testing positivity rate is 13 percent, relative to a goal of 5 percent or lower; 337 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Summit County residents in the past two weeks.

The Level Red restrictions include the following:

• Personal gatherings: No gatherings among multiple households
• High-risk populations: Very strongly advised to stay at home
• Restaurants: Indoor dining closed. Take-out, curbside, delivery, and to-go service permitted; outdoor/open air allowed only with single-household groups. Last call is 8 p.m.
• Offices: Reduced to 10 percent capacity, remote work is strongly encouraged 
• Gyms/fitness: Reduced to 10 percent capacity, maximum 10 indoors per room; outdoors in groups less than 10. Reservations required.
• Group sports and camps: Virtual, or outdoors in groups less than 10
• Critical and non-critical retail: 50 percent capacity, with increased curbside pickup and delivery encouraged. Dedicated senior and at-risk hours encouraged.
• Personal Services: 25 percent capacity, 25-person cap
• Schools: In-person suggested for K-5; hybrid or remote learning suggested for grades 6-12
• Child care: Open, with standard ratios.

Additional details on Level Red restrictions are available on the CDPHE website.

CDPHE officials are strongly encouraging Summit County to adopt additional mitigation measures to further slow the spread of the virus. Localized restrictions are under discussion by County officials and stakeholders. Local officials plan to release a new local public health order by Friday, Nov. 20; the new order would contain any additional mitigation measures not included in the state order.

County officials are encouraging community members and business owners to join the Virtual Town Hall at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, via Zoom, for additional info on restrictions in Level Red and any action required for local businesses. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Attendees may join Zoom from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device using this URL:

    https://us02web.zoom.us/s/83513378155?pwd=UjdVQXllRnZxeUlZaG83R3VFTFlZZz09

    Passcode: #8p*1QQiTn

Or join by phone:

Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

+1 669 900 9128

 +1 253 215 8782

+1 346 248 7799

+1 646 558 8656

+1 301 715 8592

+1 312 626 6799 

Webinar ID: 835 1337 8155

Passcode: 2365743147

Information on Summit County case data and trends can be found on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

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