Canon City Mayor asks Polis to hold off on COVID-19 restrictions

CANON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Canon City Mayor Ashley Smith is asking Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to hold off on further restrictions for her community.

In a letter sent to the governor on Wednesday, Smith says the community will be okay so long as Fremont County doesn't "get moved further down
the COVID-19 Dashboard Dial."

However, the Mayor goes on to say that a full shutdown "would be a disaster."

"Anxiety amongst our business community is palpable as COVID-19 cases have increased, and Fremont County is on a mitigation plan until November 9," said Mayor Smith in her letter to Polis. "Our hopes are that the positive cases will slow and no further action will be needed."

Fremont County is currently under a Level 1 Safer at Home Order. However, the two-week Cumulative Incidence Number is at 249.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. That's within the range of a Level 3 Safer at Home Order, which would mean further restrictions placed on businesses.

Smith says Fremont County has been doing well throughout the pandemic until recent outbreaks at the Fremont Correctional Facility. She says the outbreaks in the prison have coincided with the rise of numbers in Canon City.

On November 9, once the mitigation plan deadline is reached, decisions will be made regarding Fremont County and potential restrictions.