CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. — In a meeting Wednesday, the Custer County Board of Health (CCBOH) unanimously reaffirmed their decision to lift all state mandated COVID-19 restrictions.
The CCBOH has been involved in daily discussions with state officials since their initial vote regarding the restrictions on March 3, according to a press release from the board.
The Custer County Public Health Agency (CCPHA) will observe the health of its citizens daily and will meet with the CCBOH to frequently keep the county on course for returning to normalcy, the board said.
The CCBOH will work with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to monitor local health data and manage Custer County's to lift COVID-19 restrictions, according to the release.
The CCPHA will also monitor and publish local COVID-19 statistics and adjust local guidelines as necessary, the release said.
CDPHE Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan sent a letter to Custer County on March 5, released Wednesday, saying that the decision puts them in direct violation of the executive orders from Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and public health orders from the state health department.
"Counties must continue to follow the requirements of all executive orders and state public orders," the letter says. "Failure to do so may result in sanctions, including the loss of federal or state funding to counties who are in violation."
According to Executive Order D 2020 235 from Polis that created the COVID dial, Custer County is in Level Blue, one level above the least restrictive Level Green.
Additionally, Public Health Order 20-36 COVID-19 Dial, issued on Nov. 2, sets the metrics and requirements for each level of the dial and does not authorize a county to move itself to a different level or off the dial completely.
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