Arapahoe County Receives Extension On Variance

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — Arapahoe County has been granted a one-week extension on its variance, commissioners announced Friday. The county was set to lose its variance after coronavirus positivity rates spiked above permitted rates.

A variance is a leniency granted to businesses and churches that eases restrictions if the county proves that cases are under a certain level. If Arapahoe County loses its variance, some businesses would be forced to scale back their services, and others may have to close.

As of July 27, Arapahoe County's positivity rate for the previous two weeks had risen to more than 7 percent, according to data tracked by the Tri-County Health Department. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requires counties to submit a mitigation plan if their positivity rates rise above certain levels — 5 percent in Arapahoe County's case. A positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive among those overall who have been tested.

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County officials have submitted a mitigation plan to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the agency is expected to make a decision next week about whether the county will lose its variance.