Now that Colorado’s month-long stay-at-home order has expired, the state has entered the next phase of response to the coronavirus pandemic — something Gov. Jared Polis has called “safer at home.”

The governor is urging Coloradans to keep up their social-distancing efforts and mask-wearing and to stay at home as much as possible even as they’re no longer required to do so. But he and state health officials are also opening parts of the economy and loosening the strict stay-at-home restrictions.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a 34-page public health order that details different standards for reopening in different industries.

But what exactly does this new phase mean?

Here’s what we know.

What changes under “safer at home”?

Colorado’s new “safe at home” phase began Monday, April 27. It allows retailers to reopen, first for curbside pickup. Beginning Friday, May 1, they can open to limited numbers of in-store customers if they have social-distancing policies in place and employees wear masks and gloves. Stores are encouraged to continue curbside pickup for as long as possible.

Real estate agents can conduct one-on-one showings, but not open houses, beginning April 27. That’s the same day that elective and voluntary medical procedures can restart as well.

Salons, tattoo shops, personal trainers, dog groomers and other one-on-one personal services will be able to reopen May 1. But they will have to follow strict safety guidelines. The service provider and the customer must wear masks, ensure no more than 10 people are in the business, and the location is not above 50% of its total occupancy. Services that require a person to remove his or her mask cannot be performed.

Offices can bring back up to 50% of their employees to work in-person starting Monday, May 4, if they can follow social-distancing guidelines and a variety of other restrictions set by the public health order, like posting signage and monitoring employees for COVID-19 symptoms.

And if offices can keep operations running remotely, they should do that instead of reopening in person, the governor has stressed. Businesses that break the rules will be sent cease-and-desist orders and could lose their licenses.

Does everything open back up?

No. Bars and restaurants will remain closed except for takeout and delivery, with a goal of reassessing their opening to in-person sometime in mid-May, though that’s not certain. And some restaurant owners have expressed deep concern about reopening at all in May.

Nightclubs, movie theaters, concert halls, casinos, gyms and spas also will remain closed. Large sporting events and other gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.

What about schools?

Most Denver-area districts already had announced they will not resume in-person classroom instruction before the end of the school year. But Polis this week made that a statewide decree, saying students at Colorado’s K-12 schools will continue remote education through the 2019-2020 school year and will not return to their physical classrooms before this fall.

Universities and vocational schools can, starting April 27, hold in-person classes for learning that can’t be done remotely. Institutions must allow students to opt-out of in-person classes and must follow social distancing guidelines.

What do businesses that reopen have to do?

Businesses will have to follow a variety of restrictions, based on their size and industry. All will need to follow social distancing guidelines. Other guidelines include posting signs for staff, screening employees for fevers, increasing sanitation efforts, avoiding large gatherings and closing large common areas.

The public health order also says that vulnerable workers, like those over the age of 65 or with underlying health conditions, cannot be forced to work in the office and that employers should make accommodations for those workers to telecommute.

What about Denver’s stay-at-home order?

Mayor Michael Hancock issued Denver’s stay-at-home order before Polis’ statewide mandate — and it lasts longer, too. Denver’s stay-at-home order had been set to run through Thursday, April 30, but Hancock is extending that by two weeks, and it will now expire on Friday, May 8. A number of metro-area counties have followed suit, extending their orders to May 8 as well.

Stricter municipal orders supersede the state’s “safer at home” guidelines, which means that even if some types of businesses and services are allowed to resume in some fashion before May 1 under Polis’s plan, they’ll have to remain closed in Denver until the city’s order expires.

Furthermore, Denver’s shutdown of bars and restaurants to in-person customers lasts through May 11, and almost certainly longer. “The order will be extended. You can bet on that,” Hancock said on April 20. So it’s also possible the state will begin allowing phased reopenings of bars and restaurants before Denver permits such actions.

How do other counties’ stay-at-home orders differ?

Many of the counties that mirrored Denver’s stay-at-home extension to May 8 did something the Mile High City didn’t: They’re allowing non-critical businesses to reopen to curbside pickup beginning Monday, April 27. Counties that included that provision include Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield and Jefferson.

Here’s our full list of which Colorado counties have extended their stay-at-home orders.

What does it mean for me?

Colorado’s stay-at-home order has expired. That means residents no longer are required to stay inside except to leave for essential things like groceries or to exercise near home. But Polis urged Coloradans to still stay at home — and work from home — as much as possible under the new “safer at home” phase.

Especially if you’re among a vulnerable population, including older Coloradans, your May shouldn’t look any different than your April, Polis said. Stay home unless you absolutely have to leave. Use hours set aside for vulnerable populations if you absolutely have to shop. It may be disappointing that you still can’t hug your grandchildren, Polis acknowledged, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Group gatherings of 10 or more are still prohibited. You should reduce social interactions as much as possible to only include people in your household, maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, and keep washing and sanitizing.

You can go outside to exercise, but keep to solo activities or activities with other people in your household, avoiding contact sports. You shouldn’t travel more than 10 miles from your home to recreate. All nonessential travel has to be limited.

If you’re sick, don’t go to work.

Some local counties or municipalities may have stricter restrictions than the state, while others could relax guidelines with state approval.

Should I still wear a mask?

Yes. The governor has stressed that mask usage should increase under “safer at home,” as people begin going out and interacting with others more often. To date, the state has only required essential workers, such as grocery store employees, to wear masks.

For the general public, it’s a strong recommendation. Though in Wheat Ridge, where the city manager issued a stricter order, anyone going into a retail business beginning Monday, April 27, and through the end of May will be required to wear a face covering.

What isn’t changing under “safer at home”?

It’s not a free-for-all, Polis said. And it’s definitely not a return to normalcy.

These guidelines depend on people taking personal responsibility, Polis stressed.It is not time to leave the house constantly and spread the virus, to take a vacation, to host or attend parties or cookouts, to play pick-up sports, or to hug or shake hands with people, according to the governor’s office.

What happens if people don’t follow these recommendations?

If residents don’t follow the new guidelines, they shouldn’t be surprised if some restrictions return, either at the local level or statewide. The state will step up enforcement of the safer-at-home public health order, particularly for businesses and even counties. But Polis believes Coloradans will take this seriously and continue to take precautions through May and possibly into June.

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