Jefferson County Moves to Level Yellow on State’s New Dial 2.0
Jefferson County, Colo. – On Feb. 5, 2021, Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced a new Dial Framework for measuring county’s levels of openness called Dial 2.0. Under the new dial, which is effective on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m., Jefferson County will now be under Level Yellow. According to the state, the new dial is in response to the downward trend in cases and increasing vaccination efforts, as well as in an endeavor to continue to suppress the disease while bolstering the economy.
In the last seven days (from 1/28-2/3), Jefferson County has had 696 cases of COVID-19, or 119.4 cases per 100,000 residents. Our test positivity rate has been 3.6 percent, and we currently have 39 hospitalized residents. All together, these rates put Jeffco in Level Yellow on the new Dial.
Key changes to the dial include:
- Using 7-day metrics, rather than 14-day metrics, to measure incidence rates, percent positivity and hospitalizations for counties.
- Higher caps on the metrics for each level.
- County hospitalizations, rather than hospital capacity, will be used as a metric.
- Under Level Yellow, restaurants can now operate with up to 50% capacity up to 50 people, or up to 150 people using the state’s Social Distancing Calculator. (Previously, the limit was up to 100 people using the calculator).
- Under the state’s Five Star Certification Program, businesses in Colorado will not be permitted to operate in Level Blue until at least 70% of people 70 and older in the state have been vaccinated.
To learn more about what Level Yellow means for Jeffco, including capacity limits for businesses and organizations, visit CDPHE’s Dial webpage.
“In Jeffco, as we continue to vaccinate more of our community, we are taking important steps toward beating COVID-19. This move on the dial reflects that, but we want to remind our population that this fight isn’t over yet,” said Dr. Margaret Huffman, Director of Community Health Services at JCPH. “Please continue to do your part in keeping our community safe by wearing your mask, staying home when you can, keeping a six foot distance, washing your hands often and getting the vaccine when you are eligible.”
Jefferson County is currently evaluating its Five-Star Certification Program based on these changes. In the meantime, certified businesses in Colorado will not be permitted to operate in Level Blue until at least 70% of people 70 and older in the state have been vaccinated with at least one dose. The state expects this to happen by the end of the month.
To learn more about Jeffco’s place on the dial, you can visit www.jeffco.us/dial. For more information about CDPHE’s Dial 2.0, including guidance for the community and businesses under Level Yellow, please visit covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-dial.
