SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
32 VOLUME 34
C I T Y
50cI
ISSUE 48 14
TUESDAY , ,NM OVEMBER 24,2021 2020 TUESDAY ARCH 30,
New COVID-19 dining, personal gatherings Coloradorestrictions makes big will stepprohibit indoorMASS VACCINATIONS
UNDERWAY
toward reopening Final ‘dial 3.0’ rules could mark state’s largest change since stay-at-home ended BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
no other state public-health order or dial update since then has resulted in so many counties seeing such a large increase in capacity levels, according to the state public-health department. State officials expect that dial 3.0 will remain in effect until midApril, at which point the state plans to retire the dial and implement a new public health order that gives local public health agencies greater control over what restrictions to enforce, according to a March 23 news release. On March 19, the state released a draft of the dial 3.0 policies, and Coloradans were able to submit feedback by March 22. Here’s a breakdown of the final dial 3.0 policies.
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 Bars open after long haul businesses, indoor and outdoor Among the most notable changes events, and other settings. Colorado is that bars that do not have fulloriginally implemented the dial on service kitchens can now open in Sept. 15. level-blue counties. The opening of Among the dial’s six levels, green those bars comes after roughly a is the least restrictive. Purple, the year of remaining closed for inmost restrictive level, is a stay-atperson service. home order. Bars that function with a fullOnly a few counties had qualified service kitchen or provide food from for level green — also known as the a licensed retail food establishment, “protect our neighbors” stage — in such as a neighboring restaurant or the past. food truck, were able to open along But when the latest changes to with restaurants as of May 27, acColorado’s system of restrictions — cording to a state fact sheet. But othdubbed “dial 3.0” — took effect on ers remained closed to the public. March 24, counties scattered across On June 18, the state announced the state moved to level green. bars could open at 25% occupancy Twenty-eight of the state’s 64 counor 50 patrons, whichever is less. ties were in that level as of March That change also included other 26. At that wasthe thecity only A long linepoint, of carsGilpin outside of Brighton’s rapid testing site at drinking establishments, such as Denver-area county operating in Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent breweries, distillery pubs and clubs. green. weeks due to high Adams County’s testwas positivity What14-day followed a quickrate reverWhat’s more, dial demand. 3.0 also removed sal: 12 daysHealth after allowing bars most restrictions in of level green was 15.9 percent, as Nov. 17, according toJust Tri-County Department. and nightclubs to both open higher in-person altogether. Bars and indoor events Brighton and Commerce City’s test positivity rates were than service, a concerning uptick in must still adhere to a 50% capacity 13 percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 incases Commerce City have COVID-19 fueled by young limit or a 500-person cap, whichever died from COVID-19 related health To limit the spread state of COVID-19, Coloradans prompted officials is fewer. The update also made it issues. to close the establishments again. easier move to into at leastfor 15 counties counties to moved tighter restrictions that prohibits indoor and “There were several factors that level green. personal gatherings. went into the decision to close bars The update also relaxed restricagain regretfully,” said a statetions for certain businesses in other ment from the Colorado State Joint counties. Information Center, takes The move to dial 3.0 could be Photo bywhich Belen Ward questions for the state public-health Colorado’s largest step in reopening department. “Top among them was since the statewide stay-at-home orevidence that the environments der ended last April. It’s likely that
CONTACT
US AT
303-659-2522
Contact us at 303-659-2522
INSIDE THIS ISSUE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
LOCAL OBITUARIES OBITUARIES REGION LEGALS SPORTS CLASSIFIED CALENDAR LEGALS CLASSIFIEDS
3 5 8 11
2 3 6 8 10 11
As Denver metro counties continue to inch closer to local stay-at-home orders resulted in higher-risk under Colorado’s system ofbehavior coronavirusthat could lead to increased disease related restrictions, the state announced spread.” a new of can rulesopen that prohibits indoor Now,level bars in level blue dining and personal gatherings — a at 25% capacity or 75 people, whichchange applies to the majority of the ever is that fewer. That metro wouldarea include other drink-in Denver and many counties ing establishments, such as brewerother regions. ies, distillery pubs and nightclubs, The state’s which has according toCOVID-19 the state dial, information been in effect since September, is the set center. ofMany different levels ofare restrictions each counties in blue,that including some in the Denver metro area.
FOLLOW THE SENTINEL EXPRESS ON FACEBOOK Follow the Sentinel Express on Facebook
LOCAL REGION
• Accused •27JBoulder Schools moves supermarket shooter online-only Dec. 1 undergoes mental health checkup • Page 3
• Page
Gov. Jared Polis speaks at the opening of a new mass is vaccination at the Dick’s county required tosite follow based on the By Ellis Arnold Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City March 22. The new site’s goallocal is tovirus administer up severity of a county’s spread. Media to 6,000Colorado vaccinesCommunity a day when it is up and running. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park site is one Thestate. dial grew out of the state’s safer-atof several mass vaccination sites throughout the LIAM ADAMS
BUSINESS COUNCIL
• Former Adams • Vestas to City lay off 200 Champ Gutierrez competes employees NCAA tournament • Page 9 • Page
home order — the policy that came after the statewide stay-at-home order this See a map that shows each types county’s spring and allowed numerous of dial level and what restrictions apbusinesses to reopen. ply to each level at covid19.colorado. The state recently switched to color gov/data/covid-19-dial-dashboard. identifiers —alevels blue,qualifi yellowesand The level county for on orange rather than numbered — to the dial generally depends levels on the county’s rate of new cases, its peravoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red centage of COVID-19 testsNow, thatlevel come meant a stay-at-home order. back positive, and whether hospired — “severe risk” — is the secondtalizations are increasing, stable or declining.
Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page 2 SEE VACCINE, P4
WWW.COMMERCECITYSENTINEL.COM
WWW.COMMERCECITYSENTINEL.COM