A collaborative meeting of Chaffee County COVID-19 county and municipal leaders late Thursday afternoon resulted in Chaffee County Public Health Order #2020-04 being amended and extended to #2020-05 and effective today, May 1.
The order extends to June 1, 2020 and directly interprets Colorado Governor Jared Polis’s state orders. When the Governor announced the move to the “Safer at Home” executive order beginning April 27, much of the detail behind that move hadn’t yet been developed. Some of it is still a work in process.
“There is some tough language here,” said the Chair of the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners Greg Felt. “We know we’re going to find challenges embedded in this that we didn’t think of. We anticipate that there will be amendments coming from the governor’s office, that will have to be clarified.”
Chaffee County’s approach to reopening is a three-phase plan . The highlights of the amended public health order:
- The “Safer at Home” Order requires that vulnerable individuals remain at home, but allows limited reopening of postsecondary institutions and certain businesses.
- In general, people are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible and practice social distancing to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission. Gathering in groups of no more than ten for activities, is permitted.
- Face masks that cover the mouth and nose are required attire for all individuals within the county when in public places, in someone else’s home, business, or organization, or when coming into contact with high-touch surfaces in public. (Small children who can’t manage a face covering are exempt.)
- The state’s social distancing guidelines are to be followed in the county.
- Individual travel and unnecessary activities outside the county are discouraged; those who leave the county on non-necessary travel self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from outside Chaffee.
- Homeowners whose principal residence is outside Chaffee County may return to Chaffee County beginning May 16, 2020 (Phase 2) provided they follow self-quarantine (staying home and away from others) for at least 14 days prior to being in public, or until they have a negative test result. If any members of that residence experiences symptoms, they must follow the county’s isolation requirements.
- Local and personal recreation in outside public spaces, in groups no larger than 10, and practicing social distancing maintaining six feet between participants is allowed. Travel for recreational purposes should be limited to Chaffee County. Playgrounds and playground equipment remain closed.
- Personal training and classes in any setting are limited to all members of a single household or a mixed group of 4 or fewer individuals complying with social distancing requirements; except for members of a single household, sharing equipment is prohibited.
- Guiding and outfitting related businesses may open May 1, for Chaffee County residents use only, provided that the services are limited to members of a single household or a mixed group of four or fewer individuals (not including a guide) complying with social distancing requirements and completing the Safe Business Checklist. Other industry operations will remain closed until there is state approval and guidance to open and Chaffee County has lifted its restrictions on tourism and visitors.
- Restaurants and bars will remain closed but may continue to provide curbside and delivery services.
- Gyms and fitness facilities are to remain closed except for providing personal training for no more than four people following the requirements and completing a Safe Business Checklist.
- Movie and performance theaters will remain closed, but a drive-in theater may open May 1.
- Short-term lodging, including but not limited to hotels, motels, short-term rental (30 days or less), bed and breakfasts establishments, lodges, retreats, campgrounds/recreational vehicle park, and recreational camping, remain prohibited. Short-term lodging may be able to open June 1 (Phase 3) if they meet requirements and receive a certificate of safety. All short-term rentals (such as VRBOs) must be in compliance with all land-use code licensing requirements before a certificate of safety is issued. The county awaits an amendment to the state order that it is safe to open the above-mentioned businesses.
The dining area of La Herradura in Buena Vista. Image by Henry DeKam.
“This order helps to re-open the county’s economy while reducing the property damage caused by COVID-19 and preserving the welfare of our residents by reducing the spread of the disease in our communities and our workplaces and preserving critical emergency and healthcare capacity in the state,” said Chaffee County Public health Director Andrea Carlstrom.
Carlstrom says while the COVID-19 landscape remains relatively stable in Chaffee County at this time, without taking appropriate steps during this phased reopening, the number of cases within Chaffee County could once again begin to rise, endangering the critical summer tourism season.
“This would have the effect of further interrupting the functioning of the community and overwhelm the capacity of the local health care system, especially here in high country health care systems, and impact the ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” explained Carlstrom.
There is clear scientific evidence that some individuals who contract the COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, which means they may not be aware they carry the virus. People without symptoms can transmit the disease, and since testing remains limited, reducing interactions and following the scientifically-based requirements (outlined Thursday in a message from Commissioner Felt to the community) is crucial.
Chaffee “Safer At Home” Modeling Requires Full Participation and Compliance
The general agreement on the public health order did come with objections. Restauranteurs are chaffing to reopen their on-premises dining, and the lodging community is anxiously awaiting some direction. One of the simplest of virus preventions – wearing a mask – was also questioned.
Disposable face masks – image courtesy Grainger
“I think the mandatory mask rule is fighting an uphill battle and won’t help with buy-in,” said Kent Maxwell.
“From a foundational standpoint, all of this ties back to the four scientific principals of stopping virus transmission,” said Felt. “Masks reduce the spread of COVID-19. We need to keep coming back to that point.”
What is at stake, says county leadership, is nothing less than the long term economic future of the county. If county cases begin to rise as the county reopens, the Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) Director, who is also the Chaffee COVID-19 Incident Commander, has the authority to tighten restrictions in future orders to protect public health.
“CCPH recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant hardship and frustration for all of us. Because of the sacrifices that we have all made as a county, we are experiencing remarkable progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 locally,” said Carlstrom. She references the fight against COVID-19 as nothing less than a war against a virus. “While we are all excited to lift some of the restrictions in the state and local orders, we still need to take a thoughtful, gradual approach to reopening. We all need to do our part to be accountable and responsible by adhering to the requirements.”
Hi I heard on the radio that out of county people should not come into the county and if they did there was a $5000 fine.I have seen numerous out of state plates,rv”s,cars and trucks full of camping gear,canoes etc over the last several days as well as CO plated vehicles with the same set ups.My question is is the county shut down to tourists or not? Thank you
According to the public health order, Second homeowners are not allowed back into their vacation homes until May 16, and the county is not allowing tourists back in until June 1. That said, it is obvious that non-residents of this county are ignoring the public health order. Doing so endangers all of us; as the methodical plan to gradually reopen this county was put in place to protect our health and our economy. If we lose our critical summer season because we have to shut back down, that would make this situation even worse. I live in Chalk creek Canyon and the traffic this weekend (including out-of-state plates) was like a 4th of July weekend.