The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has approved the Boulder County Administrative Committee’s application for the state’s Five Star variance program.

The Colorado 5 Star Certification Program is designed to allow certified businesses (inspected and compliant with the program’s criteria) to operate one level below the county’s current state COVID dial level if the county meets four specific benchmarks of COVID-19 impact in the county. For a business to qualify for the program, it must demonstrate that it has implemented all the required public health measures to help protect customers and staff from contracting COVID-19 and be inspected by the 5 Star program staff.

Currently, Boulder County metrics are in Orange on the state dial, which will allow 5 star certified and inspected businesses to operate at the capacity levels set under level Yellow, once the program is operational next week. The county COVID-19 metrics that are reviewed twice a week as part of the program’s ability to operate in the county are:

• A two-week incidence rate in the appropriate dial level for all of the past 7 days
• A two-week percent positivity in the appropriate dial level for all of the past 7 days
• Under 90% of regional ICU beds in use, and days of stable or declining hospitalizations in the past two weeks in the appropriate dial level.

The Boulder County 5 Star Administrative Committee applied for the program January 20, with support from Boulder County Public Health, Boulder County Commissioners, hospitals across the County, and law enforcement. According to the Boulder County 5 Star Administrative Committee, business applications for the program will likely open by Friday, February 5th, with inspections beginning the week of February 8th.

Information on how to prepare for the application and how to apply will be posted on Boulder County’s 5 Star Certification Program website starting February 2. This website is available in English and Spanish, and will provide instructional videos, sample inspection checklists, and resources for businesses interested in applying for the 5 Star program. There will also be a technical assistance webinar for businesses to learn about the process and ask questions on February 5th at 11am - register here.

For more information regarding the program, please visit the BOCO 5 Star website.