The new year means fewer restrictions as Summit County moves to level orange on the state’s COVID-19 dial on Monday, Jan. 4. Since Nov. 22, the county has been in level red on the state’s.
Members of Summit County’s lodging and short-term rental community expressed their disappointment after county officials declined a request to allow exemptions for lodging booked through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season during their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, Mary Waldman, owner of Summit Mountain Rentals which includes 250 short-term and 50 long-term rentals said lodging properties like hers are “devastated.” She said she had hoped the county’s declining COVID-19 numbers might have helped their case. Christmas cancellations have already rolled in, and she said many lodging companies are about to lose New Year’s reservations.
“(Lodging companies) were sending out (cancellation) notices after yesterday’s (Board of Health) meeting,” Waldman said. “… To wait for the vaccine, I don’t know if that makes sense. The numbers don’t support the actions that are in place today.”
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Diners peruse the menu at Modis while seated in the restaurant s outdoor dining area. The restaurant has added heaters and a tent to keep customers warm while indoor dining is not allowed. The new five star program will allow indoor dining for restaurants that qualify.
Summit County restaurants are now able to apply for the 5 Star Business Certification Program, allowing them to open with less restrictive capacity measures than are currently allowed in level red.
Although the program was included in Summit County’s amended public health order, which will go into effect Saturday, Dec. 19, the county is still in the process of applying for a variance to implement the program locally.
A medical technician holds a clipboard with information related to COVID-19 screening procedures at the Silverthorne drive-thru testing site Nov. 20. Pitkin County has started requiring a negative test from travelers entering the county. Summit County officials said that is a mitigation effort they are not considering.
Photo by Jason Connolly / Jason Connolly Photography
Summit County officials will not be requiring a negative COVID-19 test result from visitors who come into the county.
At a Summit County Board of Health meeting Thursday, Dec. 10, county officials discussed Pitkin County’s decision to require a negative test result from travelers.
Starting Monday, Dec. 14, Pitkin County will be requiring all nonresidents spending one or more nights in the county to complete a travel affidavit, which includes a negative test result for anyone over 10 years old. According to the Pitkin County website