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DENVER – Colorado health officials on Friday released draft guidelines that could give businesses, including restaurants, the ability to avoid certain COVID-19 restrictions if certified by their local health agency.
The so-called “5-star” program is currently underway as a pilot program in Mesa County, which is among more than a dozen counties in Colorado on the red level of the state’s COVID-19 dial. Level Red bans indoor dining and is implementing other COVID-19 restrictions, but restaurants in the 5-star program could avoid certain restrictions if specific protocols are followed and certified.
The state has not said what restrictions will be lifted for certified businesses in Level Red counties. Companies in Orange level counties would be eligible to operate under the yellow level capacity guidelines, and yellow level companies would be eligible to operate under the blue level restrictions.
No county is currently in the new purple tier on the COVID-19 dial, but businesses in those counties would not be eligible for the 5-star program.
Read the full Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment draft guidelines here.
Qualifications include:
• A written restaurant plan will implement or exceed state prevention guidelines and local guidelines and how they will enforce compliance.
• All employees undergoing symptom checks.
• Regular awareness to customers and employees about exposure notifications.
• Registering the name and contact number of customers to be used for contact search.
• Comply with site specific guidelines, such as 10 foot spacing for restaurant tables and reservations; reservations at gyms and personal service businesses; and any other industry specific requirements that will be developed.
Any company that has already been cited for a violation of a public health order will not be able to be certified.
According to the draft guidelines released on Friday, the 5-star program would be suspended if a county reaches more than 90% of its hospital capacity or if it reaches red-level measurements for more than two weeks.
The Mesa County pilot program will be reviewed by December 4, and parameters for a state-wide program will be finalized by December 14, with the program capable of being launched by December 18. .
The CDPHE said on Friday that due to high levels of COVID-19 in Colorado, the agency would review the Mesa County program “to determine if such a program is compatible with the red level and make a final decision” on whether the 5 star program should go ahead.
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