In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we, the undersigned residents of Colorado, are concerned by the number of businesses in our state refusing to comply with local and state public health orders mandating:

• physical distancing
• the wearing of masks by staff/employees
• that all customers wear masks (except those with legitimate medical exemptions)
• capacity limits
• last calls
• suspension of in-person dining
• business closures

According to the State of Colorado website (https://covid19.colorado.gov/enforcement-public-health-orders), “Colorado law requires compliance with executive and public health orders; therefore, not following these orders is breaking the law.” Despite this fact, an alarming number of Colorado business owners and managers are choosing to put their staff, customers, and communities at risk by willfully violating public health orders, thereby increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Disturbingly, a large number of non-compliant businesses reported by members of the public have yet to be visited by public health inspectors.

What’s more, many of the businesses that have been visited continue to disregard orders, yet few have been issued citations, despite the State of Colorado making it clear that “violation of a state public health order is a misdemeanor and can be punished by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. Individuals who violate an order may also be responsible for some costs of the health agencies in abating the cause of sickness, and could have a state license revoked, such as a restaurant, liquor, or professional license — subject to an enforcement action, including revocation.”

County and municipal public health agencies’ refusal or inability to enforce public health orders has created a climate in which numerous businesses flagrantly ignore the law, thereby emboldening more businesses to do the same. If we are going to keep businesses open in our state, it is essential that they comply with any and all public health orders.

According to the State of Colorado, “Under Colorado law, [Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] has the authority to enforce an order. This may happen when a local public health agency is unable or unwilling to enforce an order.”

As COVID-19 continues to negatively impact the health of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans and tens of millions of Americans, we, the undersigned, demand that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment take immediate action to cite—and if violations persist, temporarily close—any and all businesses refusing to follow state law.