As Some Southern Colorado Counties Seek Local Control, Others Plan To Stay At Home Through April 30

As Colorado plans for its current statewide stay-at-home restrictions to expire, several Southern Colorado counties are looking for permission to conduct their own phased reopening of businesses.

In a Facebook announcement Wednesday, Custer County officials said they're planning to send a waiver application to the state aimed at allowing local officials to determine their own phases of reopening.

Credit Custer County Emergency Management / Facebook

As of Wednesday, both the state health department and Custer County health officials were reporting two known cases of COVID-19, with one hospitalization and no deaths. The confirmation of the two cases came in early April, according to county health officials.

The move comes after Fremont County officials announced plans earlier this week to do much the same. Their request was dated Tuesday and addressed to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 

The letter says the county will align its approach with the state's model for phased reopening, and that the Fremont County Department of Public Health and Environment will "monitor and regulate social behaviors, events, business practices and travel to control the transmission of the disease."

The letter also says that as of April 20, Fremont County had 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

As of Tues., April 22, the Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment said there were 14 known positive cases, with five probable cases. That's defined as people who have not received a test but have been in close contact with a known positive case and are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. State data, which includes those probable cases, reflects that number as well, with a total of 19 listed through Mon., April 21.

Colorado's stay-at-home order is set to expire Sunday, April 27. It will be replaced by a "Safer At Home" model that still encourages everyone to stay home, but allows for a phased reopening of certain businesses with certain restrictions.

Meantime, other Southern Colorado communities, including Chaffee, Las Animas and Huerfano counties, are currently maintaining the stricter stay-at-home directives through April 30.