Earlier this evening, Gov. Jared Polis released a new Executive Order aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Executive Order requires Colorado employers, with some exceptions, to reduce in-person workforce by at least 50% by 8 a.m., Tuesday, March 24. It directs all employers to implement remote work solutions to the greatest extent possible and recommends employers stagger work schedules to reduce the proximity of workers if remote work is not practical or possible. The order extends through Friday, April 10.
Employers who can certify that employees are no closer than 6 feet from one another during the workday are exempt. Additional exemptions include:
- Health care operations
- Critical infrastructure including utilities, fuel supply and transmission, public water, telecommunications, transportation, hotels, organizations that provide for disadvantaged people and the food supply chain
- Critical manufacturing, including food, beverages, chemicals, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, sanitary products and agriculture
- Critical retail including grocery stores, liquor stores, farms, gas stations, restaurants and bars for takeout, marijuana dispensaries but only for medical or curbside delivery, and hardware stores
- Critical services including trash and recycling, mail, shipping, laundromats, child care, building cleaning and maintenance, auto supply and repair, warehouses/distribution, funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, animal shelters and rescues
- News media
- Financial institutions
- Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
- Construction
- Defense
- Public safety services such as law enforcement, fire prevention and response, EMTs, security, disinfection, cleaning, building code enforcement, snow removal and auto repair
- Vendors that provide critical services or products including logistics, child care, tech support and contractors with critical government services
- Critical government functions
For more information, please read the full announcement or review the FAQs, which include more detail about each exemption.
If you have critical needs not met by this exemptions list, please feel free to connect with us by emailing katie.doyen@denverchamber.org, so that we can help communicate appropriate needs to Gov. Polis’ administration.
