Jefferson County Applies For Colorado's 5-Star Program

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Jefferson County has applied for Colorado's 5-Star Certification Program, officials announced Thursday.

The program would allow higher capacity limits and more leniency for local businesses that can prove they have strict COVID-19 protocols.

Douglas County became the first in Denver's metro area to get the green light for the program. Arapahoe County has also applied for the program.

To be eligible for the program, a county needs to prove it's seen a two-week sustained decline in cases, a positivity percentage lower than 10 percent or "demonstrably improving over the past two weeks," fewer than 90 percent of intensive care unit beds in use, and steady or declining regional hospitalizations, public health officials said.

The initiative encourages businesses to go 'above and beyond' to implement COVID-19 safety measures. If a business is approved, it can operate with capacity restrictions one level above Jefferson County’s position in the State COVID-19 dial, which will allow restaurants to open indoor dining, capped initially at 25 percent capacity, not to exceed 50 people per room.

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If approved, phase one of the Jefferson County Five-Star Certification Program would focus on restaurants without a drive-through option, Jeffco officials said.

"While we are waiting for approval from CDPHE, we are asking Jeffco businesses to submit a Business Interest Form stating their business is willing and able to meet all the criteria to be considered for the Five-Star Certification Program," the county said in a news release.

"For phase one of Jeffco’s program, there will be an emphasis on restaurants without a drive-through option, but we would like to hear from all businesses who have an interest in the program."

If Jeffco is approved for the program, the business interest forms will be evaluated and businesses will be contacted with instructions on how to submit a Five-Star Certification Application, which includes a checklist that confirms their compliance with the elevated best practices and criteria for the program.