Colorado Shifts To Dial 3.0: What That Means For Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Colorado's state public health agency released Wednesday its latest update to the COVID-19 dial framework.

The state shifted from Dial 2.0 to Dial 3.0, which will likely remain in effect until mid-April when the state plans to retire the entire dial system and replace it with a new public health order that gives more control to local public health agencies, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Jefferson County is currently under Level Blue: Cautious requirements under the new Dial 3.0; however, if Jeffco's current incident case incidence rates continue, the county will shift to the stricter Level Yellow.

“We can prevent this,” said Dr. Dawn Comstock, executive director of Jefferson County Public Health. “We are asking residents to please stay the course. Do it for the grandparents in our community who still have not been able to meet their newborn grandchildren, for loved ones who have been waiting to celebrate their wedding day, or for businesses who are just trying to survive.

"Find your ‘why’ and continue to wear your mask, keep your distance and avoid gatherings for just a bit longer. We all need each other to do our part right now.”

Because Jefferson County is — at least for now — under Level Blue, here are the changes under the new Dial 3.0 that took effect Wednesday:

• Offices can operate at 75 percent capacity.
• Retail stores can operate at 75 percent capacity.
• Manufacturing can operate at 75 percent capacity.
• Restaurants can operate at 100 percent capacity with 6 feet distancing.
• Outdoor events can operate at 100 percent capacity with 6 feet distancing.

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• Recreation in Level Blue can operate at 100 percent with 6 feet distancing.
• Outdoor guided activities can operate in at 100 percent capacity with 6 feet distancing, subject to local limits.
• Bars in Level Blue that do not serve food can operate at 25 percent, not to exceed 75 people.
• There is no longer a state limit on personal gathering sizes for Levels Green, Blue and Yellow. The state will follow CDC’s guidance on personal gatherings among vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The CDC — and Jefferson County Public Health — still strongly recommends avoiding larger gatherings and crowds to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Additionally, in Level Blue, restaurants and recreation — including gyms, recreation centers and pools — that are part of Jefferson County’s Five-Star Certification Program can operate at 100 percent capacity with 6 feet distancing. All other Five-Star certified businesses in Level Blue may operate with an additional 50 people beyond the capacity cap set for Level Blue. However, no certified business may operate at Level Green capacity.

Between March 16 and March 22, there were 707 cases of COVID-19 — 121.3 per 100,000 — in Jefferson County, public health officials said. The seven-day case incidence rate limit, including a buffer allowance, for Level Blue is 115 cases per 100,000 people. If cases are not reduced below this limit within five consecutive days, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will move Jefferson County to Level Yellow, public health officials said.