ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. – A rising number of COVID-19 cases and increased hospitalizations has prompted Adams County to take a step back in the state’s reopening strategy.
Beginning on Oct. 28, the county will move to Level 3 of the Safer at Home public health order and new guidelines will be implemented. Non-critical retail stores, houses of worship and restaurants will be asked to operate at 25% capacity. Gyms, recreation centers and indoor pools will be forced to suspend in-person services.
“We understand it has been a very long year, but to avoid further restrictions from the Health Department, we need everyone in Adams County to pull together and do what needs to be done to get our numbers down,” said Emma Pinter, Adams County Commissioner and Board Chair. “Our goal is always to keep our businesses open and our communities thriving but to do that we need everyone to follow these new guidelines more closely than ever before.”
As businesses began to open again, Colorado rolled out policy called Safer at Home where a dial indicates the level of “openness” for individual counties. You can find out where your county stands by clicking here.
On Monday, Denver and Boulder also warned that they could move backwards due to the increasing positivity rate and hospitalizations.
The Adams County announcement caught business owners by surprise, like Audrey Goodman, who found out when she saw a post on Facebook. Goodman owns Breath of Life Yoga. Since her studio is considered a gym, she has to move all of the classes online.
“We’ll follow it because we want to do everything in our power to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. But in the same breath, we feel like we’ve done everything responsibly, we haven’t had any cases, we follow all the guidelines,” said Goodman.
Goodman said business is down 60% and she’s worried a second closure could be devastating for her business.
“Financially, of course, we’re treading water and we hope to come out on the other end. But even more importantly than the financial side of it is the impact on our clients,” said Goodman.
