Adams and Arapahoe County to be under Stay at Home orders until May 8

Tri-County Health Department’s Board of Health directs executive director to develop Public Health Orders extending Gov. Polis Stay at Home order with few exceptions
​
Tri-County Health Department will be extending Gov. Polis Stay at Home order until May 8th in Arapahoe and Adams Counties in an effort to stem the ongoing high level of COVID-19 virus infection in these counties. Douglas County, which has had case numbers level off in recent weeks will not be subject to this order and will continue with the Governor’s Safer at Home order released earlier this week.
“We want to get people back to work as soon as it is safer to do so,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department. “This extension in Adams and Arapahoe will give us more time to do several things: expand public health measures such as testing and contact notification, develop and implement strategies in partnership with our business community on how to safely reopen, and to encourage the public to practice social distancing and other safety measures---all of which should hopefully reduce the spread of this disease.”
TCHD along with other Denver Metro health departments — Jefferson County Public Health, Broomfield County Public Health, Boulder County Public Health, Denver Public Health and Environment– has been looking carefully at the Governor’s Safer-at-Home plan for dealing with COVID-19, including his request that each county and region examine their own data and context and make decisions appropriate for the nature of the epidemic in their areas. TCHD has done so and has come to the conclusion that, like much of the Metro area, Adams and Arapahoe Counties are not yet ready to relax the restrictions that were put in place with the Governor’s Stay-at-Home order.
The key difference between the statewide Stay-at-Home order and the Tri-County’s planned extension of the order in Adams and Arapahoe counties is the allowance for non-Critical Businesses to begin to offer curbside delivery of products as a step to helping our businesses re-open. Additionally, travel to pick up these goods will now be included in the definition for necessary travel.
Governor Polis’ “Safer at Home” order calls for a gradual reopening of businesses throughout the state. Some businesses can open April 27, for example, retail businesses can offer curbside service. Salons and other personal services can re-open May 1, with strict protocols. Restaurant, bars and venues will remain closed.
Tri-County Health Department will issue the public health orders for Adams and Arapahoe County by Sunday, April 26, 2020.