Recent Updates
Boulder County Restriction Levels
-
- Boulder County is currently at ‘Level Blue’. Here’s what that means:
- Restaurants may operate at 100% capacity so long as there is 6 feet of distance between parties.
- Bars may operate at 25% capacity up to 75 people.
- Gyms may operate at 100% capacity, maintaining 6 feet of distance between parties.
- Child care centers are open.
- Offices must be at 75% capacity, remote work is encouraged.
- Coloradans can opt in to a secure Exposure Notification system through their smartphone. Being alerted to a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested, and reduce the risk to your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and community.
- Boulder County residents must wear a face covering whenever entering or within any public indoor space that is not that person’s residence, or while using or waiting to use the services of any taxi, bus, light rail, train, car service, ride-sharing or similar service, or mass transportation.
- All individuals older than ten years old must wear a face covering in public indoor spaces in Boulder County at all times.
- When outdoors, individuals are not required to use face covering. However, a face covering is recommended if social distancing cannot be maintained.
- Boulder County is currently at ‘Level Blue’. Here’s what that means:
Vaccine Information
-
- Colorado has developed a phased approach to vaccine distribution to save lives and end the crisis that has been brought on by the pandemic as quickly as possible.
- The map below shows all of the active sites offering vaccinations in Colorado:
-
- The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment has put together a timeline outlining the order vaccines will be distributed to different groups. Colorado is currently in Phase 2, vaccinating the general public. The full list of vaccine phases can be viewed here.
-
However, although the general public is now eligible to be vaccinated, that does not mean everyone will be able to get an appointment on the first day of eligibility. It will likely take 6-8 weeks to get vaccines to every Coloradan who wants one. While we continue to vaccinate Coloradans across the state, please continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, and keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others whenever possible.
State Response
- In March 2021, the Colorado Legislature unveiled the Colorado Recovery Plan. It’s a $700 million stimulus package that will: take care of our small businesses, revitalize our infrastructure, support hardworking Colorado families, and make investments in our workforce and rural Colorado.
- These dollars will be allocated through dozens of bills this legislative session. You can read all about the nuts and bolts of the package here.
- In November, the Colorado Legislature returned for an extraordinary session and passed several bills to provide millions of dollars in relief to Colorado families & businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The full rundown of the bills we passed with information on how to access relief can be found here.
- Highlights of the package of bills passed:
- $57 million in direct aid, grants, and annual fee waivers to struggling small businesses
- Restaurants, bars, and food trucks are able to retain state sales tax they collect from November 2020 through February 2021
- $20 million to housing assistance to support renters and homeowners facing financial hardship
- $5 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund in order to provide financial relief to Coloradans that are struggling to pay their utility bills
- $20 million toward increasing our state’s broadband capacity
- $45 million to enable existing child care providers to keep their doors open and new providers to open and meet the needs of working parents
- $5 million to help replenish essential community services that increase access to food for Colorado families facing food insecurity
Federal Response
President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Recovery Plan on March 11th. This sweeping stimulus package will provide direct relief to most Americans, funding to safely reopen schools, investments in COVID-19 testing and tracing, and it will effectively cut child poverty in half. In more detail:
- The relief package provides a 3rd round of direct payments for most Americans of up to $1,400 per adult and the same amount per dependent (regardless of age). Those payments have already started hitting bank accounts.
- The $300-per-week boost to unemployment benefits will continue through September 6, 2021.
- The bill expands the Child Tax Credit:
- For 2021, the bill temporarily expands the child tax credit, which is currently up to $2,000 per child under 17.
- Under the legislation, the tax credit would be as much as $3,600 for children up to age 5 and as much as $3,000 for children 6 to 17.
- $350 billion goes to states, local governments, territories and tribal governments.
- About $130 billion will go to safely reopening schools.
- It also includes funding for colleges and universities, transit agencies, housing aid, child care providers and food assistance.
