Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 12, 2020

The Town of Lyons is committed to serving the needs of the public while taking precautionary steps on behalf of our residents, staff, and the community. With the outbreak of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, we are monitoring information provided by Boulder County Public Health, Colorado Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While Town Hall currently remains open, we ask residents to use more caution if you have questions for Town Staff. When possible, please call (303-823-6622) or email. We especially encourage those who are elderly or at a higher risk of contracting the virus, to avoid coming to Town Hall if they are feeling ill or concerned about potential exposure.

Controlling COVID-19 requires personal protective measures (e.g. staying home when ill, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often), reducing disease transmission through environmental disinfection to eliminate viruses from frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g. tables, door knobs, toys, desks, and computer keyboards) and instituting community-wide mitigation measures reserved for pandemics and novel diseases. Town staff continue to sanitize all hard surfaces, door knobs, phones, public areas with approved cleaners/sanitizers.

The overarching goal of community-wide mitigation is to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce cases occurring from community spread which reduces the peak number of cases in a community, protects those most vulnerable to this disease, and protects the healthcare system from high demands on hospitals and the healthcare infrastructure that has other unintended consequences.  

CDC guidance also recommends that cancelling large gatherings early in the transmission within the community can have a significant impact in reducing community-wide spread and reduce the number of people who become ill. The Town of Lyons is cancelling senior programs through the end of March and has reached out to the local churches who provide senior dinners to try and have them distribute dinners individually.  Boulder County provided lunches (Lyons Bistro) will be available to go starting next week. Upcoming recreation classes are postponed at least through the end of March.

LEAF (Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund) has let the Town know that they will be providing 5 shelf stable meals and extra snacks to all Meals on Wheels clients and some Food Pantry clients in the event of virus-related or self-quarantine. The cost of this resource is $10 for each client served. If you can help cover this expense, please go to LEAF's website and make a donation. Lyons Community Food Pantry needs the following items: 
- canned meals (soups, chili, stew, ravioli, etc.)
- kids snacks (fruit or apple sauce cups, individually-packaged snack items)
- disinfectant wipes
- dental hygiene items

Additionally, we have reached out to local businesses to share best practices for personal protective measures for their staff and customers. We’ve also distributed posters with information to help stop the spread of germs to local businesses and have posted them locally.  

Please continue to follow the recommended steps from the CDC to protect yourself and prevent the spread of illness. We will keep you informed of any additional changes in operations as this rapidly changing public health situation continues.