April 1, 2021
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 16
Colorado makes big step toward reopening Final ‘dial 3.0’ rules could mark state’s largest change since stay-at-home ended BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
he also participates in educational efforts like town halls and webinars. His schedule varies, but on average, he’s spending about 11 to 12 hours per day working, he said. Douglas, 68, has hardly taken time off and when he has, work usually wriggles its way into his schedule anyway. “The man never stops,” said Jennifer Ludwig, deputy executive director for Tri-County. “I don’t know how he has the energy to do what he does.” But before the disease took hold locally, causing more than 120,000
In what may amount to Colorado’s largest step toward reopening since the statewide stay-at-home order ended, the state saw nearly half of its counties move to the lowest level on the state’s “dial” system of restrictions. The state’s color-coded COVID-19 dial is the set of restrictions counties must follow based on the local spread of the virus. The system affects capacity at restaurants, other businesses, indoor and outdoor events, and other settings. Colorado originally implemented the dial on Sept. 15. Among the dial’s six levels, green is the least restrictive. Purple, the most restrictive level, is a stay-athome order. Only a few counties had qualified for level green — also known as the “protect our neighbors” stage — in the past. But when the latest changes to Colorado’s system of restrictions — dubbed “dial 3.0” — took effect on March 24, counties scattered across the state moved to level green.
SEE DOUGLAS, P22
SEE REOPENING, P10
Dr. John Douglas poses on his front porch for a portrait. He has been the executive director of Tri-County Health Department PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER since 2013.
Head of Tri-County on one year of COVID-19 Dr. John Douglas has led the department since 2013 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
If there’s one word to describe the past year for Dr. John Douglas, it’s “relentless.” As the director of the state’s largest public health department, Douglas has endured a nearly-endless slog of meetings, questions, criticisms and suggestions over the past COVID-19 year. Business owners, elected leaders,
residents and others from Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties — those communities represented by Tri-County Health Department — have come to him often with their fears, concerns and confusion during this period. “And every question, he provides a great deal of attention to,” said Emma Pinter, an Adams County commissioner. “What I think people don’t realize is … he does that every time, all day, every day.” Douglas, who has been in the position since 2013, is consumed daily by hours of video chat meetings with his staff, the counties he represents and school districts. Often,
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
CONSIDERING GUN SAFETY
Advocate for stronger laws fields our questions P4