5 Star Business Certification Program
The State of Colorado’s “5 Star” Certified Business Variance Program may allow businesses to expand customer capacity to the next less restrictive dial level by implementing safety measures beyond those required by public health orders and guidelines, to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This program is designed for responsible businesses that are following public health guidance and going above and beyond to prioritize the health and safety of their staff and customers. For example, when a county’s case (incidence), testing (percent positivity) and hospital metrics are in the red dial zone, a business may operate at the capacity limits allowed under the orange dial zone.
The State of Colorado moved Garfield County into level orange on Monday January 4, in recognition of downward trends in statewide case numbers and of the economic strain associated with level red restrictions. However, Garfield County is still not meeting level orange metrics, so 5 Star businesses are not able to move to yellow capacities, but must continue to operate at level orange capacities. In order to move from one level to the next less restrictive level, county metrics must meet or exceed that next level for at least seven days.
CDPHE approves Garfield County 5 Star Business certification program contingent on metric eligibility
The Garfield County 5 Star Program Administrative Committee’s application to implement a 5 Star certified business variance program in the county has been approved, contingent on metric eligibility, by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Business complaint form
File a complaint
Complaints are tracked by Garfield County Public Health (GCPH). The Administrative Committee, in cooperation with GCPH, will follow up to validate the complaint and will issue warnings, notices of violations, or move to suspend the operator from the 5 Star Program. Each complaint will be handled on a complaint and case-by-case basis.
Enforcement and compliance
Protocol for enforcement
The Administrative Committee, Garfield County Public Health (GCPH), and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will receive complaints and will follow up accordingly. The Administrative Committee with the cooperation of the GCPH will have a two-stage disciplinary and enforcement protocol.
Upon the first GCPH verified complaint, GCPH will forward the violation report to the Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee will issue a warning letter to the owner/agent of the violating business.
If upon a second GCPH verified complaint, it is found that the operator is still out of compliance with any of the mitigation strategies and will not correct the issues to become compliant with the 5 Star Program, GCPH will forward the violation report to the Administrative Committee, then the Administrative Committee will send notification to the owner/agent of the documented violation report and suspend the business from the program for 30 days, after which the owner may choose to re-apply to the program for re-certification. Acceptance of the business back into the program is at the sole discretion of the Administrative Committee
5 Star certified business locator
Find a certified business in Garfield County
Coming soon
Garfield County 5 Star application
Program development
Garfield County 5 Star application to CDPHE
Garfield County 5 Star support
Program lifespan
If Garfield County sees a significant rise in COVID-19 cases or hospitalizations, then the program may be suspended. This automatically occurs if we reach more than 90 percent of the county’s ICU hospital capacity. A county variance may also be revoked if businesses are not following 5 Star protocols and the county does not do enforcement.
Thus, it is vitally important that case numbers and hospitalizations continue on the downward trend made possible by the community’s previous hard work, and that business owners and workers make smart decisions by avoiding group gatherings, limiting any in-person celebrations to only one other household, and follow the 5 Star protocols.