DENVER — Colorado bars will be allowed to reopen soon, as Gov. Jared Polis on Monday announced relaxed guidelines for the state's safer-at-home phase amid a continued downward trend of COVID-19 cases.
Under the new guidelines, indoor spaces, including bars, would be allowed to open at 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer, according to the guidelines. Restaurants reopened last month and have been able to serve alcohol, but bars that don't offer dining have been limited to takeout, such as beer sales or cocktail kits from a brewery.
The state will allow for public comment on the guidelines before finalizing them later this week, Polis said.
Several other guidelines will be included in the relaxed measures:
— Residential summer camps will be allowed to have up to 10 children indoors and up to 25 children outdoors.
— Certain large facilities, such as houses of worship and event and conference spaces, will be allowed to have up to 100 people in the same room, depending on the size of the room. Venues over 5,650 square feet can open up to 25% capacity or 75 people, and venues over 11,300 square feet will be allowed up to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
Polis said the event space guidelines are aimed to provide more flexibility for conference, receptions and similar indoor events.
— Facials and shaves will be allowed at salons, Polis said. Previous guidelines prevented those services, since customers were required to wear masks.
Coloradans can submit feedback on the proposed guidelines here.
Polis said the changes come after Colorado has seen a downward trend in cases in 12 of the last 14 days and a downward trend in hospitalizations in eight of the last 14 days.
Still, Polis emphasized the need for Coloradans to continue maintaining six feet of distance and wearing masks in public. The guidelines released Monday, while relaxed, included guidance to maintain both of those measures.
"Masks are the ticket to the Colorado we love," Polis said.
