The city of Pueblo will be under a two-week curfew beginning Friday as a prevention effort to stop the spike in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Nick Gradisar announced Thursday.

The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day. It will end at 5 a.m. on Nov. 13.

“What we are facing is a public health disaster which threatens our lives and our economy,” Gradisar said. “It requires that we take immediate action.”

No one will be allowed in public areas during the curfew except if traveling directly to or from work, fleeing dangerous circumstances or experiencing homelessness.

There are also exceptions for those traveling directly to or from religious activities or exercising rights protected by the First Amendment, including freedom of speech or the right to assembly.

On Tuesday, Pueblo’s two-week positivity rate was 5.6%, four times the positivity rate on Oct. 1.

Pueblo County’s two-week incident rate has reached 357.5 cases per 100,000 people, passing the Stay at Home Level 4 threshold of 350 cases.

Pueblo’s rates are also well beyond the 175 cases threshold for Safer at Home Level 3.

Currently, Pueblo is at Safer at Home Level 2 and will remain there for now. However, Gradisar said if rates do not decrease soon, the city will advance to Level 3 or 4.

Under Safer at Home Level 3, businesses, restaurants and workplaces operate at 25% capacity. Indoor sports, gyms and fitness centers close, along with senior facilities. Remote and hybrid education is recommended for all ages.

Denver, Adams and Logan counties are currently under Level 3 restrictions.

“We must redouble our efforts to slow the spread of the virus,” Gradisar said. “We must do everything we can to keep our schools open and our businesses open.”

Gradisar pointed to the city’s increased hospitalization rates while justifying the curfew.

Pueblo’s Parkview Hospital currently has the largest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since March. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations at Parkview tripled this month.

On Tuesday, only two ICU beds in Pueblo hospitals were not occupied, Gradisar said.

Pueblo is also implementing increased enforcement of health regulations for local businesses.

COVID-19 enforcement and compliance technicians will visit local businesses to make sure they are aware of and are in compliance with the rules of the Level 2 COVID-19 status.

Those caught in violation of the curfew will be cited by the Pueblo Police Department and face a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail.

“Pueblo, this is a fight for lives and livelihoods,” Gradisar said. “I’m calling on you to do your part, not just for the next two weeks but until we have won this war.”