Denver Lifts Outdoor Mask Requirement, City Shifts To Level Blue

DENVER, CO — Masks are no longer required in outdoor public settings in Denver, public health officials announced Wednesday. The new order takes effect immediately.

Masks will still be required in indoor public spaces and on public transportation.

Colorado's Dial 3.0 is set to expire Friday, but Denver is set to continue with a variation of the framework, officials said.

The city, which is currently at Level Yellow, is set to shift to restrictions consistent with Level Blue for most categories Friday:

• 75 percent capacity at offices
• 75 percent capacity for retail businesses
• 100 percent capacity for gyms, recreation centers and pools, with six-foot distancing between non-household members
• 100 percent capacity for restaurants, with 6 feet of distancing between parties and a group size limit of 10
• 25 percent capacity for bars that do not serve food, not to exceed 75 people
• Alcohol beverage sales at bars/restaurants allowed until 2 a.m.
• Indoor unseated events at 50 percent capacity, not to exceed 175 people per room
• Indoor seated events at 100 percent capacity, with six-foot distancing between groups of up to 10 individuals (indoor events with over 500 people must consult with the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment)
• Outdoor seated and unseated events with fewer than 5000 attendees at 100 percent capacity, with a written mitigation plan that facilitates social distancing between parties.
• Proposed events with 5000 or more attendees must consult with Denver Department of Public Health and Environment before the event can occur.

The Five Star program will continue as follows:

• Indoor events at 50 percent capacity not to exceed 500 people
• Restaurants, gyms, recreation centers, and pools are not afforded extra capacity because they will be allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity with six-foot distancing
• All other certified businesses may allow up to 50 additional people in each setting beyond the limits

The new mask order and Level Blue requirements are set to expire in 30 days, but will be re-evaluated for possible extension closer to their expiration dates.

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Public health officials from across Denver's metro area consulted on their new plan for replacing the state's Dial 3.0, but decided to move forward with a variation of the dial. Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams counties will also operate under Level Blue beginning Friday; however Douglas County commissioners voted to opt out of the dial system.

Colorado coronavirus rates have gone up in April, the latest data shows. More than half of cases in our state are variants, public health officials said.