Posted on: December 23, 2020
Arapahoe County submits variance application to CDPHE
Arapahoe County has applied to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for a variance that, if approved, will enable the County to open its Five-Star Recovery Partner Program for area businesses. The Arapahoe County Five-Star Recovery Partner Program will allow participating businesses to operate with capacity limits that are less restrictive than the County’s position in the statewide COVID dial dashboard.
To qualify, businesses must have demonstrated their compliance with public health guidelines and safety precautions. As Arapahoe County’s position changes on the dial, program participants will continue to operate with capacity limits that are one level above the overall county position.
The County submitted its variance application after meeting established state metrics. Approval for the variance is contingent upon the County’s COVID-19 numbers continuing the sustained decline they have recently shown. An approval for the variance could come as early as next week.
As the County awaits approval, the community and businesses can prepare by:
- Continuing to keep the COVID-19 numbers at a two-week sustained decline in cases, positivity percentage and hospitalizations.
- Preparing and submitting business plans to the Arapahoe County Five-Star Certification website. (NOTE: The site will not begin accepting applications until the CDPHE has approved the County’s application.)
- Letting other businesses and organizations know about the program.
- Continuing to practice all COVID-mitigation strategies, including mask wearing, hand washing, mandatory social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.
About Five-Star Certification
Arapahoe County’s program is a collaborative effort between the area business community and local governments, chambers of commerce and economic development experts. Its ultimate goal is to suppress the COVID virus and mitigate economic damage to the business community.
The program requires participating businesses to deploy a layered approach of strategies that have helped reduce the transmission of COVID-19. In addition to these best practices, program administrators will work with the business community on a robust messaging and education campaign to increase compliance with current public health guidance among these businesses and the general public, particularly around the importance of limiting gatherings to members of a single household.
For more information, visit our website.
