The City of Brighton, Adams County and the Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) are working together to mitigate the rise in COVID-19 cases. According to the TCHD, the percent positivity rate for Adams County stands at 7.9-percent, with the two-week COVID-19 case count (new cases) totaling 1,760. Brighton sits at a 6.85-percent positivity rate (two-week average) with 801 total confirmed cases and 36 deaths. The World Health Organization recommends the two-week rolling average be at or below 5-percent; anything higher indicates an active outbreak and/or the need for increased testing.
To reduce the surge in positive cases, the TCHD issued a public health order for Adams County on Friday that places additional restrictions on gatherings, including prohibiting spectators at organized sporting events (including high school and adult recreational and league sports), reducing the participant size for organized recreational and league youth sports to 25 people per field (coaches excluded from this count), limiting gatherings indoors to 5 individuals and outdoors to 10 (this doesn’t apply to those living in the same household), and implementing an alcohol sales curfew of 10 p.m. The public health order will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, unless it is extended. These steps are temporary, unless our numbers continue to increase. The goal is to decrease the trend in numbers so that we can resume activities under Level 2 guidelines.
According to the public health order, the Colorado Department of Health & Environment (CDPHE) will follow-up in ten days to access the county’s numbers and mitigation progress. If infection levels don’t improve, the county is at risk of moving from Level 2 of the State of Colorado’s Safer at Home Order to Level 3. Reverting to this level would be more restrictive, including reducing restaurant capacity, suggesting remote learning only, and potentially closing indoor fitness facilities including gyms and recreation centers to minimize further spread.
In response to the rising cases, Adams County and TCHD have launched new campaigns. TCHD’s new campaign Practice Safe Six aims to remind communities of the importance of practicing the following social distancing guidelines:
- Stay 6 feet from others
- Mask up
- Wash your hands often
- Be extra safe if you’re at higher risk
- Stay home when sick
- Get tested if you have symptoms
Adams County’s Pledge to Protect campaign urges residents to stay vigilant to help stop the spread by following social distancing guidelines.
According to the TCHD, a large number of the positive cases may be connected to both public and private social gatherings. To reduce the spread of infection at gatherings (indoors or outdoors), it’s encouraged to wear a face covering, maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others not in your household, and to wash your hands frequently.
As the weather cools before the holidays and the flu season comes into full swing, following social distancing guidelines will be critical to protect the health of our community, ensure holiday gatherings don’t put family and friends at risk, and to keep our economy going. The community is urged to take this into consideration as the City works with Adams County, TCHD, and the CDPHE to mitigate current case trends.
If you need to get tested, Brighton’s free rapid mobile testing site remains open to individuals who live or work in Brighton. Location: Eagle View Adult Center, 1150 Prairie Center Pkwy. Hours of operation: Tuesdays and Saturdays (through Nov. 21) 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Documentation is required (i.e. an ID card, utility bill, etc. for residents and a paycheck stub, work badge, etc. for employees).
If you have any questions regarding the public health order, please contact the TCHD at 303-220-9200. The public can report suspected violations of the order by contacting the same number.