“Stay-at-Home” orders expire at the end of the month. Governor Jared Polis yesterday announced that some restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future. 

The governor said their will be a transition period through May 4th into what he called a “Safer-at-Home” set of guidelines. 

Polis compared the stay at home period as a sprint and the time ahead as a marathon.  He suggested reducing daily encounters, limiting social interactions, and continuing social distancing. 

He is allowing retail to reopen with some restrictions still in place but is extending the closure of restaurants and bars to an undecided date, but Polis has said he has a personal goal of mid-May.  When restaurants do reopen, they will likely have to do so with drastically reduced capacities and added social distancing protocols. 

Offices will be able to open at 50% capacity with precautions still being taken. Personal services, such as hair salons, dental offices, dog groomers, tattoo parlors, and more will be able to reopen with restrictions.  He suggests citizens reman at home if they can and to avoid going out unless necessary. 

Included in the list of guidelines under the ‘Safer-at-Home’ model are:

  • Stay at home unless necessary
  • If you are sick, stay home
  • Wear face coverings when out
  • No gatherings of 10 or more people

Schools and colleges will remain closed, but daycare centers will be open.  Real estate showings will be allowed with social distancing, and elective medical procedures can resume with precautions. 

Chaffee County Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom said in a press release, “Currently, and in the upcoming days, there is and will be a lot of discussion on lifting restrictions and reaching recovery.  Our county’s health and safety are top priorities, and rest assured, we will be very thoughtful about what this looks like locally.  Chaffee County Public Health will continue coordinating and collaborating with our municipalities and stakeholders to move toward reopening when it is safe to do so.”

Chaffee County Public Health is expected to update the county’s health order sometime today.