Pueblo County variance to reopen bars, malls approved by commissioners, still needs state approval

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A variance request to reopen several types of social businesses in Pueblo has been approved by the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners. It's now headed to the Governor's Office where it must be approved before anything else reopens.

Within the variance request obtained by KRDO, Pueblo County and City officials ask to reopen places of worship, bars, breweries, wineries, indoor malls, certain outdoor and indoor recreation activities, graduation events and libraries. The variance also asks to amend the 10 person rule in public gatherings to allow courts to resume trials by jury.

The document goes on to say Pueblo's testing capacity, hospital capacity and number of cases is low enough to warrant the variance. It also includes detailed procedures for how to operate certain businesses if they are allowed to reopen.

The variance is signed off by the City of Pueblo, Pueblo West Metro Board, local hospitals and the Pueblo health department.