<\/p>\n
Colorado is loosening some restrictions on people\u2019s movement starting this week as the state enters a new phase of its battle against the new coronavirus, but travel for outdoor recreation is one area that\u2019s not being relaxed.<\/p>\n
In fact, there may actually be stricter limits in place for people seeking some fresh air.<\/p>\n
Gov. Jared Polis\u2019 \u201csafer-at-home\u201d executive order issued Sunday night includes a provision ordering Coloradans not to travel more than 10 miles from their homes to recreate. That means activities like hiking, biking, skiing, fishing and rafting.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravel for recreational purposes should be limited to your own community, like your county of residence,\u201d the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment\u2019s public health order, which went into effect on Monday morning, says.<\/p>\n
The new safer-at-home order is in effect through at least May 27<\/a>, meaning that Coloradans are expected to stay close to home past Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer and a popular weekend for camping and hiking. The fear is that visitors will either contract or spread the virus in areas of the state not as well equipped to deal with mass infections.<\/p>\n \u201cYou made the sacrifice of staying at home for 32 days,\u201d Polis said at a news conference on Monday. \u201cI think you can make the sacrifice of going to your second or third favorite park for another month.\u201d<\/p>\n The Colorado Sun asked Polis how the state would enforce the 10-mile order, but he didn\u2019t have an answer. Some mountain communities already have restrictions of their own on visitation and have been publicly asking non-residents to stay away.<\/p>\n The public health order from CDPHE is vague. The agency didn\u2019t answer a question about what specific penalties people could face for violating the directive.<\/p>\n The order says: \u201cThis order 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The stay-at-home order that expired Sunday allowed for outdoor recreation and actually appeared to OK travel of any distance to do so, though officials encouraged people to stay closer home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really important to understand we really need everyone to do the right thing,\u201d said Mike Willis, director of Colorado\u2019s Office of Emergency Management, on a call with reporters Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n Polis said Coloradans just need to be patient.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of our communities that rely on tourism have had high viral count loads because of that tourism and just need more time where they need to get on their feet,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want you to go out to an area where you might get the virus because others are congregating there from across the state and other states. And we also don\u2019t want people who unwittingly are bringing the virus back to communities that have made great progress at great cost.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s really important that we respect the wishes of those communities.\u201d<\/p>\n