COVID-2019 (Coronavirus)
The City of Brighton staff continues to be in communication with local health partners, Tri-County Health Department (TCHD), and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regarding the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019).
TCHD issues curfew in new public health order
In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Adams County, the Tri-County Health Department has issued a new public health order for the county that includes new restrictions, including a curfew for everyone except essential workers to be off all public streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., effective Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10 p.m. Current data shows Adams County has the highest numbers in the state in terms of COVID-19 daily new cases and per 100,000 people. As of Nov. 5, there are 17,107 known positive cases in Adams County with a two-week incidence rate of 797/100,000 population, and a test positivity rate of 12.7-percent. This new public health order aims to slow community-wide spread of the virus. The order will be in effect for 30 days and will be re-evaluated frequently.
Among the restrictions:
Spectators are prohibited at all sporting events including Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) sanctioned sporting events.
A nighttime curfew is imposed in all public places within Adams County, including streets and public rights-of-way, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day.
During the hours of curfew, any business that is not a Critical Business, as defined in Public Health Order 20-36, must be closed to the public. Employees and individuals providing goods or services to the business are not considered members of the public for purposes of this Order. Restaurants must be closed to in-person dining but may offer curbside and delivery services.
During the hours of curfew, all persons are prohibited from using, standing, sitting, traveling or being present on any public street or in any public place, with the following exceptions:
Providing or accessing Necessary Activities as defined in Public Health order 20-36, except that this does not include engaging in outdoor activity;
Providing or accessing a Critical Government Function as defined in Public Health Order 20-36;
Providing or accessing a Critical Business as defined in Public Health Order 20-36;
Engaging in Necessary Travel as defined in Public Health Order 20-36
Restaurants must limit party size to six people or less from no more than two households. Restaurants are encouraged to place a time limit on diners in order to maximize table turnover during hours of operation.
All alcohol beverage sales, service, and consumption must cease at 10 p.m.
As required by Public Health Order 20-36, all Critical Businesses, non-Critical Businesses and Critical Government Functions must adopt work from home or telework policies for any operations that can be done remotely.
To read the full public health order, click here.
Safer-at-Home Level 3
Due to the rise in COVID-19 County incidence rates in Adams County, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment moved Adams County from Level 2 to 3 of the state’s Safer at Home order on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
Level 3 adds restrictions such as:
-Restaurants may operate at 25-percent of the posted occupancy limit indoors not to exceed 50 people excluding staff (whichever is less) per room
-Non-critical retail may operate at 25-percent of the posted occupancy limit
-Public and private gatherings are limited to no more than 10 individuals from no more than two households
-Read the full list of restrictions here.
The dial is a framework to inform counties about how they are doing to contain the virus and has five levels. As of Wednesday, Adams County had a two-week test positivity rate of 10.2-percent. In Brighton, the two-week test positivity rate is 8.1-percent. Level 3 of Safer at Home is the highest risk level before Stay at Home measures.
To read more about what Level 3 means, click here.
[Background: On April 26, the Tri-County Health Department extended the Stay-at-Home order to May 8 for Adams and Arapahoe counties, citing an effort to stem the on-going high level of COVID-19 virus infection in the counties. On May 9, the City of Brighton transitioned from Stay-at-Home to the state’s Safer-at-Home guidelines. The change in order means in addition to essential services like hospitals and grocery stores, many non-critical businesses, like retail shops, are able to operate in limited capacity in accordance with the state’s Safer-at-Home order.]
Face Coverings
On July 16, Gov. Polis announced a statewide mandate requiring Coloradans 11 years and older to wear a covering over their noses and mouths when entering or moving within any public indoor space. This mandate excludes people 10 years and younger or those who can’t medically tolerate a face covering. This is in effect for 30 days and could be extended.
Where to get COVID-19 Testing
BRIGHTON:
Riverdale Regional Park (9755 Henderson Rd.), Brighton, CO | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays (through Nov. 21)
- No cost, drive-up rapid nasal swab testing for residents who reside within a Brighton zip code and/or employees of a Brighton business who are currently working within the City of Brighton (testing available for first 200 cars per testing day)
- Documentation will be required (i.e. an ID card, utility bill, etc. for residents and a paycheck stub, work badge, etc. for employees)
- If you have questions regarding the testing, please call 303-655-2180
Salud Family Health Clinic | 1860 Egbert St., Brighton, CO | 8 - 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
- Free testing via drive-thru or walk-up nasal swab testing for CO residents
- For residents with or without insurance (no co-pay required)
- Requires phone visit prior to setting an appointment - call 303-697-2583
Advanced Urgent Care | 2801 Purcell St., Brighton, CO | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., 7 days a week
- Drive-thru testing
- Requires an appointment for testing via an online visit or by phone at 303-558-0509
- Accepts most insurance for these tests or offers reduced pricing for self-pay
ADAMS COUNTY:
Water World | 8801 N. Pecos St., Federal Heights | 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. through September (through Dec. 31)
- Up to 1,500 tests will be administered each day
- Free to get tested; No ID card, social security number or proof of insurance required to get a test
- Registration is not required, but visitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register here
The MAC Recreation Center | 3295 W. 72nd Ave., Westminster, CO | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Aug. 13, 20, 27 (Thursdays)
- Registration is not required, no cost for the rapid test for uninsured residents
- First-come, first-served basis
- Results expected within 15 minutes of test
Former Adams County Human Services Building | 7190 Colorado Blvd., Commerce City, CO | 2 - 7 p.m. on Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 (Fridays)
- Registration is not required, no cost for the rapid test for uninsured residents
- First-come, first-served basis
- Results expected within 15 minutes of test
Generally, if someone is experiencing symptoms and may need a COVID-19 test, they should contact their primary care provider first and get tested at a community testing site. A comprehensive list of statewide community testing sites can be found here.
For a list of TCHD testing sites and information, click here.
Closures/Reopenings
City Hall: Brighton City Hall will remain closed to the public except for by appointment only to limit contact. To make an appointment, contact the department or employee you wish to meet with or call 303-655-2000. Residents may also visit www.brightonco.gov for many online services.
On June 2, City Council voted to reopen Brighton City Hall and Historic City Hall. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To ensure the safety of visitors, all employees are required to wear a face covering while in public areas, take their temperature upon entering city buildings and practice social distancing measures where appropriate. Any employee registering a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius will be sent home. Contact tracing will be done for every employee who tests positive for COVID-19.
Additionally, the city has taken precautionary measures to safeguard residents and visitors including sneeze guards at all customer services counters, increased sanitation and disinfection practices with EPA and CDC approved disinfectants, extra towels and spray disinfectants in communal spaces, and providing face coverings for visitors to the building if needed. Many departments are offering the opportunity to make advance appointments to eliminate waiting and lines, and many services are still available online.
Brighton Recreation Center: The Brighton Recreation Center is open to the public and as of early July, began to allow drop-ins. Some amenities still require reservation. Temperature taking and masks (per the state mandate) is required of employees, staff, and visitors who come into the facility. Those who register results of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will have to re-test or return on a later date and test again. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 12 - 4 p.m. Sundays. The Rec Center is closed twice daily for cleanings. To make a reservation, click here.
Parks and playgrounds: City parks and playgrounds and their amenities are now open to the public. According to state guidelines, playgrounds are permitted to have up to 10 people at a time. The City posted new signage at playgrounds to remind individuals of COVID-19-related health and safety measures. More here
Outdoor sport facilities for individual use (i.e. fields and tennis, basketball, and pickle ball courts): May be open to 25 people at a time per court or field. More here
City-owned parks and trails: Open, but visitors must follow social distancing guidelines of six feet between individuals and are restricted to groups of 10 or less.
Dog parks: Open, but pet owners are encouraged to wear face coverings and practice social distancing in those spaces.
Splash pads: The city’s splash pads are open. The City posted new signage at playgrounds to remind individuals of precautionary COVID-19-related health and safety measures. More here
Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park: Due to financial constraints related to opening the Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park for a shorter season and with limited capacity, City Council voted to not open the water park for the summer of 2020.
Restaurants: Per state guidelines, dine-in service may open up to 50-percent capacity, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is fewer, per room, so long as each table is at least 6 feet apart. Outdoor dine-in service is encouraged. To help maximize the number of patrons possible at each establishment, the City of Brighton is dedicated to working with restaurants, providing specific guidelines for those looking to t
emporarily expand operations safely and timely into adjacent areas including parking lots - details here.
Youth and sports camps: Per state guidelines, youth and sports camps are permitted, so long as there is adherence to guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). Among the restrictions are size limitations (outdoor camps of 25 people or less, indoor camps of 10 people or less) and screening of staff and volunteers for COVID-related symptoms. Click here for more.
Bars, gyms, libraries, and movie theaters: Remain closed.
Facilities that remain closed until further guidance due to state public health orders include the Eagle View Adult Center (1150 Prairie Center Pkwy.) and The Armory Performing Arts Center (300 Strong St.).
The Brighton Police Department remains open. Essential public safety services will continue and measures are in place to continue non-emergency operations.
Court sessions are suspended through at least May 31, but Court will remain open for processing cases by phone, mail, or email. All traffic tickets are eligible for the "Early Plea Guidelines" established by the City Prosecutor. All cases that aren’t eligible for this are eligible for a plea by mail at the discretion of the City Prosecutor. All Court-ordered NCTI and ISAE classes may be completed online. Restitution will be reserved in all cases for 91 days (which starts upon disposition/resolution of the case). Cases will be rescheduled to a later date when court sessions resume.
Data: Case counts, mapping, and more
Case reporting by Municipality: https://data.tchd.org/covid19/municipality/
To view case data for Adams County, visit Tri-County Health Department’s website.
To view statewide data, visit the state’s website.
To view COVID-19 cases by neighborhood and testing: https://tchdgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bcf71927e04c43dcaa4d52b445ada60e
To see COVID-19 levels by county:
https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial/covid-19-dial-dashboard?fbclid=IwAR27UwTyCOp_-exuJBLp0U7fuWIQH6q0xN2dLSJqMOIB1vm7XtasdRsnZNM
To learn about TCHD's "Practice Safe Six" campaign, go to www.tchd.org/practicesafesix, https://www.tchd.org/834/Partner-Communication-Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
A list of frequently asked questions is available here. If your question is not included, please call us at 303-655-2000.
Colorado Health Emergency Line for the Public
To help answer questions about COVID-2019, the CDPHE has set up a Colorado Health Emergency Line for the Public (CO HELP) at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911. Interpretation is available in many languages including Spanish, Mandarin, and more.
COVID-19 and Water/Wastewater Treatment
Regarding COVID-19 and the city’s water and wastewater operations, coronavirus has no impact on the quality or supply of your tap water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is low and Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.
As required for all municipal water systems, the treatment processes used at the Water Treatment Facility removes or destroys 99.99% of all viruses.
For more information, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s COVID-19 and drinking water web page.
News Releases
To view current news releases, go here.
COVID-19 Assistance Programs
For all current COVID-19 grants and resources, go to www.brightonco.gov/covid-19assistance.
For Residents: Household Rent and Mortgage Grant, Testing Reimbursement Grant, Child Care Assistance, etc.
For Businesses: City of Brighton Business Water and Sewer Grant, Grants for Businesses With Under 50 Employees, etc.
For Nonprofits and Community Groups: Colorado Assistance Fund
If you have any questions about these assistance programs, City Staff are ready to help, free of cost. Contact Cindy Steele at csteele@brightonco.gov or 303-655-2276.
Additional Resources
Below is reliable and up-to-date information to help you stay informed about the virus:
Safety Tips
Residents are strongly advised to continue staying at home, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (this includes people with underlying medical issues and those 65 and older). People who go out in public are urged to continue to take the following preventative measures:
Wear a face covering
Maintain six feet of distance from others
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself and contact your doctor
If you are sick, stay home
Limit non-essential travel
Here are more preventative actions recommended by the CDC - Protect yourself and others.