San Juan County is transitioning to Gov. Jared Polis’ more relaxed “safer-at-home” measures Friday, but that doesn’t mean the backcountry around Silverton or the town itself will be open to visitors.
Within Polis’ new public health order is an enforceable mandate that says Colorado residents are not allowed to travel more than 10 miles from their homes for outdoor recreational purposes.
Silverton – nearly 50 miles from Durango and 25 miles from Ouray, the nearest towns – would effectively still be off limits to outside visitors, town officials say.
“San Juan County still prohibits visitors,” said Sheriff Bruce Conrad. “We take it very seriously. We haven’t come this far to give it up now.”
On March 24 – two days before Polis’ stay-at-home order – San Juan County Public Health Director Becky Joyce enacted a public health order that prohibited outside visitors and unnecessary travel into the small mountain town north of Durango. It was one of the strictest in the state.
Attempts to reach Joyce on Wednesday morning were not immediately successful.
The policy, initially called a “locals only” policy, met resistance from some members of the public because it prohibited nonessential travel into the county, effectively closing off public lands to recreation.
But officials in San Juan County maintained the public health order was enforceable, though Conrad said last week he’s only issued a few warnings and has not had to write a ticket.
San Juan County officials maintain the self-isolation of the town is working.
As of Wednesday, San Juan County remains one of just eight counties in the state without a confirmed case of coronavirus, in part because of the restrictive measures but also because the community has been unable to test until recently. Joyce said in a previous interview it is likely the virus is present to some degree in the community.
As Polis sought to relax restrictions related to the coronavirus, Silverton officials said last week they would operate on their own timeline for reopening, and it remains unclear when non-San Juan County residents will be allowed to return.
San Juan County’s own policy expires Thursday, and the county will adopt a localized version of Polis’ order effective Friday. Polis’ order remains in effect through May 27, which will cover the Memorial Day weekend. It’s possible, too, the order may be extended.
While the “safer-at-home” directives are intended to ease guidelines in an attempt to reopen the economy, the new set of rules appear stricter on outdoor recreation than the previous stay-at-home order, which did not limit the distance people could travel for that purpose.
Polis and state health officials say traveling for outdoor recreation puts small mountain communities at risk, which were some of the hardest hit during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak.
“You made the sacrifice of staying at home for 32 days,” Polis said during a news conference Monday. “I think you can make the sacrifice of going to your second or third favorite park for another month.”
According to the “safer-at-home” order, Colorado residents are limited to “recreational travel to no further than 10 miles from their residence.” However, the order also says “travel for recreational purposes should be limited to your own community, like your county of residence,” presenting a conflicting scenario for people who live near county lines.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment did not immediately respond to questions seeking clarification.
The “safer-at-home” order goes onto say it will “be enforced by all appropriate legal means. Local authorities are encouraged to determine the best course of action to encourage maximum compliance. Failure to comply with this order could result in penalties, including jail time and fines.”
CDPHE also did not immediately answer follow-up questions about how this order will be enforced.
Conrad said his deputies will enforce Polis’ order similar to San Juan County’s own public health order, giving people a chance first to comply.
“We are slowly turning the tap to allow for business owners to come in with strict guidelines and prep for future visitor allowance,” he said.
Other measures in San Juan County include:
Returning residents must quarantine for two weeks.Businesses that open will be required to make employees wear face masks, follow social-distancing guidelines and frequently wash hands.Construction, real estate, landscaping and other noncritical business may reopen with guidance.People leaving Silverton no longer must quarantine upon their return. Instead, they are asked to wear masks, social distance and wash handsLimit travel to necessary travel only
jromeo@durangoherald.com
Returning residents must quarantine for two weeks.Businesses that open will be required to make employees wear face masks, follow social-distancing guidelines and frequently wash hands.Construction, real estate, landscaping and other noncritical business may reopen with guidance.People leaving Silverton no longer must quarantine upon their return. Instead, they are asked to wear masks, social distance and wash handsLimit travel to necessary travel only
