Colorado Springs Mayor weighs in on reopening after stay-home order

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Gov. Jared Polis didn't extend the stay-at-home order, instead saying the state will transition to a "safer at home" model -- but what does that mean for shuttered businesses in Colorado Springs?

The second phase of the public health battle against COVID-19 in Colorado begins on April 27, and many have questions about what people will be able to do.

The safer-at-home order does ask Coloradans to avoid unnecessary travel, strongly advises wearing face coverings in public, bans gatherings of over 10 people, and requires those who are sick to not work.

Many Coloradans will return to work in the next few weeks. Others will continue to work from home, as encouraged by Governor Jared Polis.

Those employers who do open will be required to follow guidelines to ensure the safety of their workforce and the community. The state is advising large workplaces to have symptoms and temperature checks before employees begin work.

Retail stores are expected to be the first businesses that reopen. However, initially, stores will only be allowed to offer curbside delivery. It’s not clear when retail stores will open their doors to customers.

According to the new order, salons, tattoo parlors, dog grooming, personal training, and other personal services will begin again with strict precautions.

Restaurants will remain offering take out and delivery. The order says officials are “exploring phased-in reduced capacity opening” for restaurants.

Real Estate agents can begin showing homes that are on the market. However, there will be no open houses during the safer-at-home order.

Coloradans will also be able to resume elective medical and dental services. There will be strict precautions implementing to ensure enough personal protective equipment is available for critical care needs.

Schools will remain closed but childcare services will open back up for everyone, instead of just being available for essential workers.

“This is going to be a very very important phase,” Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers explained. “The key to this whole thing is to keep the pressure off the hospital systems.

The mayor praised El Paso County citizens for following the stay-at-home order and social distancing requirements so far. Colorado Springs accounts for 12.5% of the state population. On Tuesday, Suthers told KRDO 35 patients were recovering from COVID-19 in Colorado Springs hospitals, compared to the 1,100 patients statewide.

Suthers said that Colorado Springs COVID-19 cases account for a little over 7% of the statewide total, accounting for 11% of the deaths in the state.

“We’ve got to make sure that those numbers don’t skyrocket,” Suthers said. “The fact of the matter is more people are going to test positive. Some people are unfortunately going to die. But we have to make sure that we have the hospital resources to give everybody who tests positive and who needs hospitalization the best chance they’ve got of surviving.”

Suthers believes implementing the safer-at-home order will be a critical period in COVID-19’s history in Colorado. The mayor told KRDO he has had a good line of communication with Governor Jared Polis’ during the pandemic, adding that he spoke with the governor on Monday evening.

“In my opinion, the next phase is going to take more self-discipline, more voluntary compliance,” Suthers said. “Because it’s easier to stay home when nothing is open, right?”

Suthers is urging the older and vulnerable to continue staying home while the economy begins to reopen.

“We also need those people who go out and start going to retail establishments to wear masks, to practice social distancing. And we need those companies, those businesses to line people up as we are doing in our grocery stores,” Suthers explained.

Suthers told KRDO he believes the community will want to shop at businesses that adhere to the public health orders.

“They’re going to do what they need to do to get the most number of customers,” Suthers said. “And that’s probably to do a good job of complying with social distancing and other requirements.”

The mayor also said communities need to continue being diligent to prevent outbreaks, stressing the need for continued oversight and strict policies at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Suthers told KRDO he believes the rules and regulations that come down during the pandemic should not be politically motivated.

“I want to emphasize, I don’t think politicians call the shots here. I think health departments call the shots,” Suthers said.

The governor’s office says there may be a fluctuation between social distancing levels to recover from outbreaks and protect the vulnerable populations and allow for economic growth and sustainability.