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==Colorado’s county-level COVID restrictions a result of politics, not just data, officials say

County officials throughout state describe uneven application of rules==

Colorado’s COVID-19 restriction dial is designed to be data-driven and binary. If a county crosses certain thresholds that indicate worsening spread of the coronavirus, tougher restrictions follow via an order from the state.

But data and interviews with county health officials and political leaders throughout Colorado reveal that the dial system turns out to be highly negotiable, delivering citizens and businesses a patchwork of regulations informed partly by data and partly by politics.

A person can run errands in two counties with roughly similar virus metrics and expect different levels of protection because of differences in relationships between the state and local officials in those counties. The rules are different not only for retailers but for other businesses, schools and private gatherings.

The state recently revised its COVID dial to create a new, not-quite-stay-at-home level of restrictions — the new Level Red. Level Purple was added to the top of the dial. Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment on Tuesday named 15 counties that are moving to red Friday: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, La Plata, Logan, Mesa, Morgan, Routt, Summit and Washington.

Five more were added late Thursday: Alamosa, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo and Weld. Those counties reach Level Red on Sunday.

That means they must suspend in-person dining and heavily restrict capacity inside offices and gyms, among a slew of other requirements.

The revision of the dial to create Level Red was itself indication of the elasticity of the rules: If the state had strictly followed the dial in recent weeks, many counties would already be under stay-at-home orders. By revising the dial, the state protected counties from a full lockdown.

Ray Beck, a county commissioner in Moffat County in northwest Colorado, said that hours before those 15 counties were named, his commission spoke with the staff of Gov. Jared Polis. He described it as a positive, collaborative interaction.

“The governor’s office was encouraging us to go to red,” he said. “I asked if we could go to orange (the level below red) instead, because red pretty much shuts us down. They said, ‘Yeah, that’s an option.’”

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https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/20/covid-dial-colorado-polis-red/

Sign of political times: Truago owner lashes out at Whitmer with inflatable Grinch, message

After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shut down in-door dining at restaurants for a second time this year, the owner of one eatery put a large inflatable Grinch in front of his business with a sign: “Gretch the Grinch.”

Jeremy Syrocki, owner of Truago restaurant in Trenton, is fed up — having to close down his business yet again.

And, like the first shutdown, he said there is no plan from Whitmer detailing what the state is going to do now that she has “put people out of work” again.

He drove to Novi on Thursday and purchased the blow-up character from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and put it in front of his business, located at 2775 W. Jefferson Ave., Friday morning.

It took all of about 10 minutes before people started responding — some in full support and others vowing never to return to Truago.

According to Syrocki, he has never taken a political stand like this before and involved his business.

Nevertheless, he said a reaction from people is exactly what he was looking for when he put up the Grinch and sign, and it’s his hope the message reaches Whitmer’s office.

“I care about people and how people are going to feed their families,” he said “With no plan of action, she’s just reacting. I want people at the state and federal level to step up and do their job.”

The owner said that his heart goes out to anyone who has contracted COVID-19 and those who have loved ones who have died from the virus.

He disagrees that by opposing the governor he is showing a lack of empathy for those who have suffered from the virus.

“People are missing the point,” he said. “They are taking it personally. I’m sorry people got offended and took it that way. This is about getting the governor to help people. I disagree with people who think I’m asking her to make a choice between people’s health and business. This is affecting people in a lot of different ways.”

Syrocki said he realizes he might lose some customers over the sign.

He hopes that doesn’t happen, but is prepared to suffer the loss if he does.

Many customers don’t appreciate seeing the Grinch, which has ruby red lipstick courtesy of Syrocki, and are vowing to never return to the restaurant.

There is a picture of the blow-up Grinch on the restaurant’s website, along with a slew of comments.

Despite not intending to offend anyone, many appear to be just that.

In fact, some are calling the sign “disheartening.”

“What a slap in the face to those who have had COVID, those who have lost family from it and those who continue to treat it,” said Nina Lewellen.

There were others who frowned on the political statement by the owner and will no longer frequent the restaurant.

“Well, this is disappointing,” Jera Glotfelty Monticello said. “We ordered carryout multiple times throughout the previous closures, but we’ll be taking our business elsewhere now. Maybe not the best PR move if you want people to support you right now.”

Syrocki said he personally will be fine getting through the closure, but said he is thinking about his employees, single mothers, waitresses, food runners, line cooks and other businesses.

https://www.thenewsherald.com/news/coronavirus/sign-of-political-times-truago-owner-lashes-out-at-whitmer-with-inflatable-grinch-message/article_8181a3d2-2b91-11eb-b6f1-8f6e308cd2f5.html

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