Governor announces temporary outlaw of dining in at bars, restaurants

President Donald Trump on Monday urged Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people for a period of 15 days, and also urged older people and those at increased risk form the new virus to stay home

And some major cities, including Colorado, have informed all bars and restaurants that they must close their doors to dine-in customers for a couple of weeks due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday afternoon that he is ordering no dining in at restaurants and bars throughout the state for 30 days; however, delivery, drive-thrus and take-out will still be available and allowed.

These are some of the latest measures being taken as the United States continues to try to limit the spread of coronavirus and avoid taxing the country’s health care system.

More 30-day state-ordered closures were announced for gyms, theaters and casinos.

In Pueblo, Mayor Nick Gradisar said on Monday that he hopes individuals will pick up food for carry-out or order delivery from restaurants in Pueblo.

"I’d like to see those people be damaged as little as possible," Gradisar said of dining establishments. "But what we’ve got to do if we want to avoid the problems that hit other countries is we have to maintain that social distancing. People sitting in restaurants where it’s a confined space, if there’s somebody with the virus there, there’s a likelihood you could contract it."

Gradisar also said on Monday that he has advised his department directors to assume that everybody has the virus.

"That’s all you can do is assume that everybody has it so you maintain that distance and you try to keep it from spreading because we need to flatten this out because we don’t want everyone getting sick at once because that will overwhelm our health care facilities," Gradisar said.

A City Council work session scheduled for Monday night was canceled, but regular City Council meetings will go forward.

Gradisar said he and staff are working on how to comply with open meeting laws for future council meetings.

"Can we limit the capacity in Council chambers so public can still attend but there’s that space between people necessary to maintain?" Gradisar said. "We’re working through some of those issues right now."

City Council meetings are streamed on Facebook Live, and Gradisar is urging anyone who can to watch them there to do so instead of attend in person.

"If people have a burning issue to attend personally, we’re looking at limiting the capacity at council chambers so people can sit 6 feet apart and maintain social distance," Gradisar said.

Gradisar said people can expect council meeting agendas to be much lighter than usual for now.

"We’re trying to put off that just so we don’t have issues that will attract a chamber full of people to an open meeting that runs the risk of spreading the virus," Gradisar said.

Pueblo County currently has one confirmed COVID-19 case, which was announced on March 13 by the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.

The health department has only said that the person who tested positive is a male in his mid-30s and that he is isolated at home and recovering. No information about if the person has traveled recently, where he works, or whom he may have come into contact with has been provided, as the health department said it is investigating those things.

The state announced 29 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in Colorado to 160.

Pueblo County, in cooperation with the city of Pueblo, has declared a local emergency due to the COVID-19 virus, the health department announced on Monday.

Parkview Medical Center announced on Monday changes for hospital visitors that will be effective beginning today.

Patients at Parkview now will be allowed only one visitor in a 24-hour period, officials said.

In addition, the hospital will continue to prohibit visitors into the hospital under the age of 18. If visitors present symptoms of cold or flu, they will not be allowed in the hospital, regardless of age.

"We understand this might not be ideal for families and friends visiting loved ones but this measure of precaution is to keep everyone safe," Leslie Barnes, Parkview’s president and CEO said in a statement. "The health and safety of our patients, their families and the Parkview team is our top priority."

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: RyanSevvy