Colorado officials have moved to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination from individuals attending large indoor, unseated events in certain jurisdictions, saying the measures will “prevent superspreader events.”
In an amended public health order released on Sunday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) states that the measures will impact Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, and Jefferson counties, as well as the City and County of Denver, and the City and County of Broomfield.
The protocols, which take effect on Friday, require that everyone be vaccinated at indoor, unseated events with more than 500 people.
The order also recommends that counties adopt vaccine requirements for employees in high-risk settings.
“I am grateful for the counties that are coordinating with the state to slow the spread of the virus. Large venues and local governments are part of the solution to ending the pandemic,” Jill Hunsaker Ryan, CDPHE executive director, said in a statement.
“We also need all Coloradans to do their part by getting vaccinated if they haven’t already; getting a booster; and following basic public health precautions like masking, staying home when sick, and hand-washing,” she added.
Scott Bookman, Colorado’s COVID-19 incident commander, told FOX 31 that large indoor events are where the biggest risk of virus transmission occurs.
“We need to take increased steps to protect Coloradans, and what we cannot afford right now is a large superspreader event that disproportionately impacts our health care system,” Bookman said.
The order states that events affected by the new measures include “concerts, receptions, bars, dance halls, and auctions” but not houses of worship.
Luc Hatlestad of the the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Event Center told the news outlet that several of the center’s upcoming shows will be impacted by the changes.
“We do have some events coming up, specifically some gun shows I believe, that are coming up in the next couple of weeks. We’re going to have to figure out how to do that. We also have this Board & Barrel event, which is an indoor and outdoor snowboarding event coming up,” Hatlestad said.
Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver, said more clarity is needed on the details of the mandate.
“Our convention and meeting recovery has been slow, but we have had a good convention season with little to no COVID incidents. We have received calls from our customers, many who have protocols in place and will be challenged with an additional mandate under a short timeframe,” he told FOX 31.
“Other groups meeting early next year are also concerned and many are already sending out attendee registration information now for next year’s meetings,” Scharf added. “We are working through this to get clarity on the details of the mandate so we can share with our clients and their meeting attendees.”
