On a day when Jefferson County got the green light to implement the state’s 5 Star Certification Program, Denver County submitted its own application.

Previously, officials from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment told The Denver Gazette that the municipality would not apply until mid-January.

The announcement by Denver came after Gov. Jared Polis requested that Denver and other counties currently in Level Red have restrictions eased as COVID-19 numbers continue to improve.

If the restrictions are lowered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Denver is also approved for the 5 Star program, certified businesses such as restaurants and event centers throughout Denver would be able to operate at a Level Yellow, or 50% capacity.

“We should be proud that Coloradans have done everything they can to protect themselves and their neighbors during this pandemic,” said Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “We support any measure that helps businesses statewide open up and stay safe, and appreciate our state and local leaders and public health officials for the work to create and implement programs that help employers during these challenging times.”

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved Jefferson County’s 5-Star State Certification application Thursday, enabling businesses in the county that meet enhanced safety guidelines to open at greater capacity.

Jefferson joins Arapahoe and Broomfield counties in metro Denver, and Douglas, Larimer and Summit counties as the only ones approved for the statewide program, said a spokesperson from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Over 300 restaurants within Douglas, Larimer, La Plata and Summit Counties have opened since the statewide program launched on Dec. 18, with more to come in Arapahoe and Broomfield within the coming days.

Each of the counties approved are within the Level Red category and have been operating at 25% capacity limits.

In order for Denver County to be eligible for the program the county must show a two-week decline in positive COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity rate, according to the programs guidelines.

Currently all three categories within Denver are declining and if sustained would be eligible for the program.

Once the municipality becomes eligible for the program, an administrative committee will be in charge of certifying businesses and assessing their health and safety protocols, ventilation systems and measures to accommodate at-risk populations.

In the event a business does not comply with the mandatory requirements, the committee can remove the certification.

CDPHE also has the right to remove the program from any county that is found to not be performing enforcement, or if cases and hospitalizations begin to rise, the program may be suspended.

If a county reaches more than 90% of ICU capacity, the program is automatically suspended.