From what I’ve heard the first day of state testing was 16% positive and it went up every day after that.
People seem to be conflating three different portions of the health department order:
- Eighteen to twenty year-olds who reside in the community (on or off-campus)
- The residents of 36 specific locations in Boulder.
- CU students.
The most stringent restrictions appear to apply to the 36 residences only. They have to self-quarantine for 14 days. Health authorities have always had this power.
The “gatherings of any size” language applies to 18-22 y/o in general and appears to be more troubling simply because the words, “of any size” seems at first blush to be vague and overbroad. Doubtful that someone going out to dinner with a member of their immediate family would be the object of the law. Someone in law enforcement or with the power to issue a summons would have to bend themselves into a pretzel shape to interpret the law in such a ridiculous way.
The FAQ section specifically says 18-22 year olds can not go out with family.
Here is what the CU website says about a “gathering”:
“The order prohibits gatherings of any size within the city of Boulder that include any persons between the ages of 18 and 22 years. Unless otherwise permitted by the order, a gathering is two or more people between 18 and 22 years old engaging in any activity outside of their residence.”
https://www.colorado.edu/covid-19-updates/temporary-remote-course-instruction
If you look at the order’s FAQ at https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/public-health-order/#faq it is quite restrictive for those age 18-22 generally (and more strict for those living in the identified residences which include some fraternity houses). For example:
Given the way it is worded (including the FAQ above), it looks like they want law enforcement to target anyone who appears to be 18-22 outside of their residence who is with any other person. Whether they actually do enforce it strictly or only occasionally is another matter. Occasional enforcement could bring up complaints about selective enforcement based on something other than the actual hazard created by the actions (e.g. “walking outside somewhat near someone else while [member of lower caste minority group]”).
All CU students have been under a voluntary self quarantine directive since last Tuesday (implemented by CU after strong urging by the county). It was not effective. Hence the county order today. No one who has been paying attention should be surprised.
Just when I think it is not possible for our country to get any more irrational, I am proven wrong yet again.
This is flat-out age discrimination. People have lost their freakin minds.
This must be the first pandemic in history where it is possible to hide things so that the local community doesn’t get alarmed. Usually during a pandemic, the hospitals are being overrun with sick people.
@shuttlebus - Agreed. In fact, H just told me tonight that a K-12 school with ties to the university don’t advertise any infections with anyone so as not to alarm the community. Crazy.
Okay, my Dalton Trumbo alarm is going off, but I would just say that I think the FAQ answer regarding Boulder CO gatherings “between 18-22 year olds of any size” and going out to dinner with one’s parents doesn’t make any sense and it wouldn’t be the first time that an ordinance was just badly drafted.
Actually, it is very clear what they want to do from both the order text and the FAQ.
https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pho-2020-07-09232020.pdf says that “Gatherings of any size within the city of Boulder that include any person or persons between the ages of 18 and 22 years are prohibited.”
So no Heimlich maneuver if an 18-22 year old is involved?
https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pho-2020-07-09232020.pdf says that “A Gathering is more than one individual coming together or being physically near each other for any shared and common purpose, including socializing or participating in any activity together, including but not limited to shopping, dining, or exercising.” Would doing a Heimlich maneuver on someone be a “shared and common purpose” or “participating in any activity together”?
Can’t see this working. If they want to get together, they will find a way. Hard to imagine the police are going to spend all their resources on enforcing this.
For some reason, I have that Pink Floyd song running through my head. Another Brick in the Wall. ?
The addresses listed in the Boulder order are almost all sorority and fraternity houses. Those students are not allowed out of their homes at all, can’t go to work, can’t go to get food, can’t go to move their cars. I would not be surprised if most of the students living in those Greek houses leave. The houses really aren’t designed to have 75-100 people living in them 24/7, eating 3-4 meals a day there and maintaining 6 feet between everyone at all times.
On the same day this was announced, the PAC12 said they were going to play football. Now the team can’t practice.
The news tonight was mostly about the businesses in Boulder losing money since the bulk of their business, from students, is once again gone.
Huh. I guess the fraternity and sorority members should have followed the rules and not run around spreading disease everywhere if they wanted to have football. Actions have consequences.
There is no evidence that the sorority and fraternities were having parties. The sororities rarely have parties at their houses (can’t have alcohol). All the greek house addresses were included whether or not there were any covid cases at those addresses.
Those living in the dorms, with just as many parties and just as many visitors, are not under the strict quarantine that those living in the 36 addresses are.
You’re making gross generalizations. If the city wants to quarantine select locations that are “diseased”, that is acceptable. But restricting the movement of a specific age group in an entire area is outrageous. If they were “old people” everyone would be up in arms. This should be overturned immediately.
Around the world old people and those with medical risk factors have been subjected to the harshest shielding requirements of any group. Many people haven’t left their homes since March.
It has a distinct “shared and common purpose” vibe to it…