CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER: City and County of Denver COVID-19 Status Update 12/31/2020

By Press release submission

Jan 4, 2021

City and County of Denver issued the following announcement on Dec. 31.

The City and County of Denver provided the following COVID-19 status update:

Five Star Program Application

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity will submit the city’s application to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment seeking approval to participate in the State’s Five Star Certification program. The Five Star Certification Program encourages businesses to implement safety measures above and beyond what public health orders require. In exchange, businesses can accelerate their reopening and will be eligible for less restrictive capacity caps depending on where Denver falls on the COVID-19 dial. Details for the Denver program and application period will be available within the next couple weeks.

Vaccine Distribution Planning

The City and County of Denver, in partnership with Denver Health, this week began to vaccinate frontline Denver police, fire and sheriff first responders. Thus far, 952 vaccines have been administered to city first responders who are eligible to receive it in this phase.

Denver is also partnering with Safeway Pharmacy to provide vaccines to Denver healthcare workers and responders in Phase 1A and Phase 1B.

The city will coordinate with the State to facilitate vaccine distribution within Denver as we move through Phases 1A and 1B into Phases 2 and 3 in the weeks and months ahead. Additional details will be provided in the coming days. Click here for vaccination information for Denver residents.

New Stimulus and Relief Package

Congress has passed a new stimulus and coronavirus relief package that will benefit Denver businesses, residents and public health efforts. Included in the bill is an extension of the deadline for expending coronavirus relief funding, which was previously set for Dec. 30, 2020, through the end of 2021. Denver remains hopeful that a further measure will be introduced and passed under the Biden Administration and in the next session of Congress to provide direct funding to state and local governments managing reduced revenues due to public health and safety measures.

Denver County Current Status:

On Wednesday, Dec. 30, Gov. Jared Polis announced that he has asked the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to move counties in Level Red on the State’s COVID-19 dial – including Denver -- to Level Orange beginning Monday, Jan. 4.

Numbers represent current data, subject to change based on additional data

Current State Dial Level: Red – Severe Risk

Two-week cumulative incidence rate of ≥350
- To return to Level Orange: two-week cumulative incidence rate of ≥175 - <350
Two-week average positivity rate of >15%
- To return to Level Orange: two-week average positivity rate of >10% - ≤15%
Decreasing or Stable Hospitalizations for 0-7 Days
- To return to previous level: Decreasing or Stable Hospitalizations for 8-11 days

Denver two-week cumulative incidence rate