In addition, eight counties are moving to either Orange (High Risk) or Yellow (Concern) levels.
On Tuesday, November 17, Governor Jared Polis held a press conference alongside Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to reveal that anywhere from 10 to 15 counties would be moving to Level Red (Severe Risk) on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE) dial dashboard due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
A sixth category was also added to the dashboard; Purple (Extreme Risk). A breakdown of the levels and restrictions can be found below.
"Right now in the here and now, we in Colorado need to act to stop this exponential growth to save lives and save our economy," said Polis during the press conference.
The updated dial will be effective on Friday, Nov. 20. Check it out. #Covid19Colorado pic.twitter.com/sw7XmKEsEc
— Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (@CDPHE) November 17, 2020
Later that day, it was revealed that a total of 15 counties would move to Red on Friday, November 20. In addition, eight Colorado counties are moving to either Orange (High Risk) or Yellow (Concern) on Friday.
15 Colorado Counties Moving to Level Red on November 20:
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Clear Creek
- Denver
- Douglas
- Jefferson
- La Plata
- Logan
- Mesa
- Morgan
- Routt
- Summit
- Washington
6 Colorado Counties Moving to Level Orange on November 20:
- Costilla
- Custer
- Lake
- Montezuma
- Pitkin
- San Juan
2 Colorado Counties Moving to Level Yellow on November 20:
- Las Animas
- Gunnison
What Do the Levels Mean? What Are the Restrictions?
The CDPHE's levels, from least restrictive to most restrictive, are:
- Level Green – Protect Our Neighbors
- Level Blue – Cautious
- Level Yellow – Concern
- Level Orange – High Risk
- Level Red – Severe Risk
- Level Purple – Extreme Risk
Below is a breakdown of the CDPHE's COVID-19 dial and what restrictions are associated with each level, as of November 17. You can also view the levels and restrictions on the CDPHE's website.
Courtesy of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
According to the CDPHE, the levels are determined by a variety of factors—number of new cases, percent of positive COVID tests and impact on hospitals, and local considerations. For a county to move to a less restrictive level, the CDPHE states that it needs to meet all three of those factors for two weeks.
Under the Level Red status, bars will be closed and restaurants serving alcohol will have the last call moved from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gyms can operate at 10% capacity and childcare will stay open. Personal gatherings (of any size) are not allowed.
"It's just not the time to see friends or be out," Polis said.
Watch the press conference from Tuesday:
Posted by Jared Polis on Tuesday, November 17, 2020
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