Coronavirus In Colorado: Summit County Orders All Businesses Closed Except Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Banks, Pharmacies
SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Summit County has issued a public health order closing down all businesses in the county except for gas stations, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies because of coronavirus. Those businesses will be allowed to remain open.
RELATED: Latest Updates On The Coronavirus Outbreak In Colorado
The ban on retail businesses begins Monday night for an indefinite amount of time. By Thursday at noon, all lodging facilities, including AirBnBs, timeshares and hotels will be forced to stop doing business by the order, making it virtually impossible for visitors to stay in the county.
"We are all taking this very seriously believe in our community work together get through this," said Town of Breckenridge communications manager Haley Littleton.
Marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores can remain open for the time being.
"This is rapidly evolving and we might not have all the information but we are working hard to keep the public aware," said Littleton.
She hopes that after a month, people will appreciate that Summit County did all they could do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and that the local economy will recover from the major financial hit.
"It's heartbreaking," said Littleton. "We want people to be aware of that and also understand that we want to be a support system."
There are 160 positive cases of coronavirus in Colorado as of Monday afternoon. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed 29 new cases on Monday.
Denver's mayor announced an order on Monday morning banning gatherings of groups of 50 or more people effective immediately through May 11. All restaurants in Denver will be open only for carry out and delivery starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Additional Information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
- Practice good hygiene. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. In the absence of soap and water, use hand-sanitizer; use your elbow or sleeve to cover coughs and sneezes
- Stay home if you're sick; keep your children home if they are sick. The illness can last for many days so make preparations now to work from home if possible.
- We advise Coloradans to always be prepared for an emergency-- like a large snowstorm-- and have a plan for your family. Make sure to have 72 hours of key supplies on hand like medications, infant formula, diapers, pet food, etc. FEMA guidance for pre-pandemic COVID-19 preparedness is available on Ready.gov.
- Stay informed with reliable, up-to-date information. People who have general questions about coronavirus disease 2019, can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org, for answers in English and Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话), and more.
