More businesses were approved to reopen in Lone Tree just in time for Memorial Day weekend as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved, effective immediately, Douglas County’s variance requests for Park Meadows Mall, restaurants, places of worship, and gyms.
“We are beyond excited to be given the opportunity to re-open our businesses ahead of the State’s schedule,” said Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet. “This is an opportunity to be leaders and demonstrate our ability to successfully reopen our economy while maintaining everyone’s health and safety at the forefront.”
While the variance goes into effect immediately, not all businesses may be ready to open today. Customers are urged to contact businesses directly for hours of operation.
Furthermore, the variances submitted were approved with restrictions to ensure the well-being of both the employees and customers. For example, confined indoor spaces are limited to 50 percent of their posted occupancy code limit, while not exceeding more than 175 people at any given time, in order to achieve 6 ft social distancing. In addition, indoor common areas are to be well-managed at all times, specifically with respect to Park Meadows Mall, so that no gatherings are occurring and instead customers are moving from one destination to the next, while still abiding by the 50 percent occupancy of any confined indoor space.
“As a City, we will continue to work very closely with our business community to ensure they have the support necessary to abide by these restrictions,” said Millet. “The success we have had to date is a testament to our community’s commitment to caring for one another and following the safer at home guidelines to flatten the curve. We are able to reopen thanks to the collective efforts of our residents and business community working together to keep everyone safe.”
This variance approval is in effect until the final expiration of PHO 20-28. However, it can be rescinded if any two of the following triggers occur: a 20 percent increase in positive cases in 3-day rolling average over a 14-day period, more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in two weeks, a substantial increase in hospitalizations directly related to COVID-19 over a 2-week period, or the inability of TCHD to contact trace new cases within 24 hours of a known positive test result occurs.