BREAKING: @CDPHE has granted a variance to Douglas County to reopen restaurants, houses of worship, gyms and Park Meadows Mall with maximum occupancy of 50 percent, the agency said in a letter to DougCo Comissioners. #9news #COVID19Colorado 
We've reported the extensive plans for social distancing at Park Meadows that were signed off by @TCHDHealth: 9news.com/article/news/h…
As for restaurants, DougCo laid out some very specific guidelines in its variance request (details below). It appears the only difference @CDPHE made was to make the cap 50 percent, ensuring a minimum of 28 square feet per person, maxing out at 175 people.
To my knowledge, and it should be noted I just woke up to post this story so my knowledge might be crap, but I believe the 50 percent occupancy max is the largest occupancy allowed for any restaurants in the state right now that are allowed to open with variances.
.@CDPHE makes special note that Park Meadows needs to be careful of indoor common areas and preventing gatherings. In its very detailed 50 or so page plan, Park Meadows said it planned to use Lone Tree PD, which has a substation at the mall, to monitor common areas.
@CDPHE Douglas County has seen some impressive numbers, according to the letter. A case rate of 22 per 100,000 residents and a testing positivity rate between 1-8% over two weeks. @chrisvanderveen did a great job explaining why positivity is important here: 9news.com/article/news/h…
@CDPHE @chrisvanderveen Important to note - this variance could be rescinded it DougCo sees two of four possible triggers: Increase to 100 cases per 100,000, increase of positives by 20 percent in 3 day average over 2 weeks, substantial increase in COVID hospitalizations or inability to contact trace.
@CDPHE @chrisvanderveen Not being much of an expert on gyms or spacial math, not sure I can picture this. DougCo Variance Request requires 1 person per 120 square feet inside gyms. Must maintain 6 feet of distance and customers must disinfect equipment. Locker rooms remain closed.
