Restaurants prepare for the worst as restrictions tighten up in El Paso County

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In response to recent increases in Covid-19 case rates, test positivity, and hospitalizations, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notified El Paso County that they will be required to move to level orange: safer at home.

So what does this mean for local restaurant owners, and are they worried that another shutdown could be right around the corner?

Bill Borders, Co-Owner of Western Omelette LLC said, “It’s a terrible feeling because first of all, it’s hard to try and figure out what we are going to do, how we are going to do it and when we are going to do it. And what is really right and what is really wrong?”

El Paso County is moving to Safer At Home Level orange, which means restaurants must have no more than 25% of capacity or up to 50 people.

Borders said, “It used to sit 200 but now we are down to 100 and now we are going to have to cut back even that. So, I don’t have answers right now.”

Trying to adapt to the changes Borders is trying to get creative, “We do have a patio so we are going to try and enclose it with a canvas-type thing and put heaters out there. Hopefully, that will work but we don’t know.”

However, Borders says he’s thankful this isn’t a complete shutdown. The last shutdown earlier this year almost put his downtown location out of business, luckily, They were able to make it through.

“The main concern is the customers and the employees but if you don’t have money coming in, then what are you going to do.”

Moving forward Bill says they will continue to follow the rules and roll with the punches, but in the back of his mind that “not knowing feeling” lingers.

The new COVID-19 guidelines will go into effect at 5 p.m. Friday.