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Boulder County Health Department, Six Other Counties, and State of Colorado Issue Stay at Home Orders

To safeguard the community and protect against further community spread of the novel coronavirus, Boulder County Health Executive Director Jeff Zayach and multiple county health directors have issued a “stay at home order” effective March 26, 2020, a
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This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

To safeguard the community and protect against further community spread of the novel coronavirus, Boulder County Health Executive Director Jeff Zayach and multiple county health directors have issued a “stay at home order” effective March 26, 2020, at 8am mandating that all residents stay indoors and isolate except for certain defined essential activities, work, and services. The order is in place until April 17, 2020, although it’s possible it may be extended.

View the Boulder County Public Health Stay at Home Order: https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/stay-at-home-order

This order affects all residents living in the towns and cities of Boulder County, including Longmont. As the number of cases in the area increases, the Stay at Home Order will help hospitals and public safety services better handle the potential influx of patients. For the most up-to-date information regarding this order, please visit the Boulder County Public Health website at https://www.BoCo.org/COVID-19. You can also send questions to [email protected] or call 720-776-0822 for more information or to share your concerns.

In addition, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an emergency, temporary Stay at Home Order for the state of Colorado starting Thursday, March 26. For information visit https://covid19.colorado.gov/

What does Stay at Home mean?

Stay at Home simply means to stay at home until the order is lifted in order to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease in our community. Folks may leave their homes to perform essential activities but should otherwise remain inside. Essential activities are those that are essential to the health and safety of humans and pets, including:

  • Getting medical care for you, a family member or your pet
  • Visiting a health care professional
  • Getting medical supplies or medication
  • Going to get groceries, food (via takeout, drive-thru, food banks/pantries) or other essential household items
  • Getting supplies to work from home
  • Picking up materials from your child’s school needed for distance learning (tablet, books)
  • Going outside for physical activity in groups of no more than 4, as long as you stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not in your household and follow social distancing practices
  • Going to work, ONLY if you provide essential products or services at an essential business (health care operations, infrastructure operations and maintenance, certain government functions). View a full list of essential businesses on the Boulder County Public Health website https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/stay-at-home-order/#essential-businesses

See more on the Stay at Home order https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/three-metro-denver-public-health-departments-issue-stay-at-home-orders-to-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19/

Can I leave my house at all?

Yes, you can leave your home to perform an essential activity as listed above. We encourage you to enjoy some time outdoors as long as you can maintain proper social distancing of six feet or more between groups, but otherwise to stay in your home.

Who is affected by the Stay at Home Order?  

The Public Health Orders require that all people in each county stay at their place of residence, and that they make every effort possible to conduct only essential activities necessary to maintain health and well-being, such as getting groceries, obtaining medical supplies or medication, and/or engaging in outdoor activities like walking, hiking or running while following other social distancing practices. 

Work to provide essential business and government services or perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing, is also permitted. See the complete list of essential government services at https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/stay-at-home-order/#essential-government 

People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence except to seek medical care.

City Parks and Facilities

City parks, dog parks, open spaces, and trails currently remain open. People are encouraged to get out and enjoy these areas while keeping in mind the Stay at Home Order prohibits gatherings of more than four people and requires maintaining the recommended six-foot physical distancing. Playgrounds, golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, picnic areas, skate parks, and areas conducive to public gathering will be closed.

What about people experiencing homelessness? Where do they go? Are they exempt?

The City is working closely with partner agencies to ensure that everyone in our community can stay safe and well. At this time, those experiencing homelessness should call 303-579-7364 between noon and 2pm to access navigation services and begin the virtual coordinated entry process. If you don’t have access to a phone, please go to the HOPE administrative office at 804 S. Lincoln Street, and you will receive assistance connecting with Coordinated Entry Screening there.

Those experiencing homelessness will not be ticketed during the Stay at Home order but are encouraged to maintain social distancing and connect with coordinated entry services.

How do I prepare?

There are no interruptions in supply chains to your local businesses and essential services, so don’t panic! You can still leave your home to go to the grocery store and to purchase essential items. While you are staying at home, we encourage you to take advantage of the many digital and virtual options to keep you busy, entertained, and fit:

Where do I find answers?

Keep up with the latest press releases and City news:

How to access City services while facilities are closed:

How to help and get help during the crisis:

Learn more about the COVID-19 at:

This is a time for all communities, families, and individuals to focus on staying safe and keeping others safe. We must work together to protect those in our community who are most at risk of severe disease, particularly the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. We’re all in this together, and together we’ll get through it. We are #Strongmont. Thank you for helping keep yourself and our community healthy and well!

Information About the Boulder County Public Health Stay at Home Order

For a summary of the order details, visit https://www.boco.org/covid-19 and click on "Stay-at-Home order."

For emergency assistance, food and financial assistance, health care and mental health care supports, and child care assistance in Boulder County, visit the Boulder County COVID-19 resource webpage.

For more information about COVID-19, call CO-Help at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email [email protected].