Beginning this weekend, Arapahoe County residents and businesses will be under the state’s Safer-at-Home public health order. This order replaces the Stay-at-Home order that has been in place throughout April and allows for the gradual opening of businesses, with certain restrictions. Although the new order is in place throughout the state, individual cities or jurisdictions may have slightly different requirements. We urge everyone to check with their local officials, particularly if you live and work in different communities or counties.

The Tri-County Health Department has provided guidelines and an FAQ about reopening, as well as a checklist for businesses to use before they begin welcoming customers again. The state also has Safer-at-Home guidance on its COVID-19 site.

While many of the County’s programs and services are available online, Arapahoe County is currently making modifications to facilities that will allow for limited, appointment-based transactions later this month that protect the health and safety of customers and employees alike. We’ll share information in next week’s issue. The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners also has been working with public health officials, County departments and community partners to determine the best courses of action for reopening. It’s important to realize that in this situation, one size does not fit all, so if you can’t find an answer to specific questions about your job or the new requirements in the above links, or from your employer, please let us know.

The Board also is finalizing plans for how to allocate the $114.5 million in federal funding Arapahoe County received from the recently passed CARES Act. Please monitor this space and the County website for updates.

The commissioners would once again like to thank all of you for your diligence and patience in addressing this public health crisis, and we urge you to continue following the experts’ guidelines as we move into this new phase.