Due to a consistent and drastic spike in local COVID-19 cases, as of Friday, November 13, La Plata County will move up a level on Colorado’s COVID-19 Dial to level “Orange” (High Risk). This reduces the legal operating capacity for most businesses from 50% to 25% and moves last call for alcohol sales to 10 p.m.

To support compliance with the new restrictions, SJBPH has issued a Public Health Advisory for La Plata County. The Advisory strongly recommends that public and private gatherings in any indoor setting be limited to one household only, and that people stay at home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. SJBPH recommends that all non-critical businesses close to the public during these hours. The Advisory will remain in effect until November 30.

Archuleta County will move to Level “Yellow” (Concern) also on Friday, November 13. This limits the possibility of spread by reducing the maximum capacity at large venues and events from 250 to 175 and moves last call for alcohol sales to 11 p.m. The full list of changes can be found at the CDPHE website.

“Our community has shown we can choose to be successful in fighting COVID-19,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of SJBPH. “While cases rose around the state in the fall, we took the steps necessary to keep our schools open and our economy strong. But Archuleta County will not be spared the uncontrolled levels of disease seen in the rest of Colorado unless we all act now to reduce the spread. We know everyone is tired of this pandemic, and we are so thankful of the sacrifices everyone has made in their workplaces and social lives. We must ask all community members to once again come together and adopt good public health practices to keep our families and neighbors safe.”

With the onset of winter and more activities moving indoors, the community must act now to cancel social gatherings, move as many employees as possible to remote work, and stay home as much as possible, to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.

During the holidays SJBPH is urging all local residents to abide by their recent advisory urging no social gatherings with others outside your household, and no socializing outside your home after 10 p.m.

For information about all phases of the state’s COVID-19 dial framework for public health protections, visit https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial.

For the most up to date information on how to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19, visit SJBPH’s website at: https://sjbpublichealth.org/coronavirus/

San Juan Basin Public Health is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties. For over 70 years, San Juan Basin Public Health has improved the health and environment of the Southwest Colorado community.