Lake County updates COVID-19 public health order, plans to review on May 13

Image courtesy of Blueprint.com

Lake County has a new public health order as of April 23 that keeps most COVID-19 precautions in place and allows people to congregate indoors, masked, at 100 percent capacity with groups keeping a six-foot distance. If you’re getting together outdoors, the new rules still call for face coverings if you can’t stay six feet apart.

Restaurants are required to have six-foot spacing inside and three-foot spacing outdoors, with parties no larger than 10. Masking applies to anyone age three and older.

According to the county, private gatherings remain a source of concern, posing a “significant risk of infection.” The order asks those at get-togethers that have at-risk or unvaccinated individuals to continue with masking and distancing.

Image courtesy Lake County Public Health Agency

The restrictions are expected to stay in place until May 27 and will be reviewed May 13 by county officials with the summer tourism season in mind.

“At that time, Lake County hopes and expects to see incidence rates [decrease] and vaccination rates increase to help further reduce restrictions,” according to an April 23 release from Lake County.

The order allows for indoor gatherings of up to 500 people, but again, masks and six-foot distancing are required. Those planning outdoor events need to submit a permit application to the county or City of Leadville, and capacity restrictions will be considered based on the size and duration of each event.

The order still calls for basic precautions, including masking, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, and getting tested if symptoms appear.

As of April 23, Lake County was seeing an increase in cases in part due to two outbreaks in the county over the last three weeks. The outbreaks are considered contained and the county is currently monitoring eight active infections, bringing the local total cases through the pandemic to 773.

Citing statistics showing that fully vaccinated people are 95 percent less likely to be infected with COVID-19, Lake County continues to urge people to get vaccinated and has two vaccine events planned:

12:00 noon to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 28 at Colorado Mountain College, ages 18 and up
12:00 noon to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 5 at Colorado Mountain College, ages 18 and up

Providers in Leadville:

Safeway safeway.com/covidclinic carries the Pfizer vaccine for people age 16 and up
Rocky Mountain Family Practice: 719-486-0500 for people age 18 and up
St. Vincent Health: 719-486-0230 for people age 18 and up

Surrounding area: