Recently, Bob Burnham, president of the Colorado Amusement Machine Assn. (CAMO), reports that amusements have been given approval to operate in the state, albeit with restrictions as in other locales. Beyond more general best practices from the state and rules for “indoor events,” game guidance states:

Indoor arcades themselves may open up to 50% capacity or a maximum of 50 people per room, whichever is fewer. (There is a calculator for indoor events to determine how many people can be accommodated per room based on “medium” viral transmission.)

Arcades with foodservice should follow restaurant guidance for designated dining areas. (This is to keep dining and game-playing areas separate “as much as possible.”)

Disinfect high-touch areas and equipment.

Limit player group size to no more than four people and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distancing between groups.

Lower or turn off the volume on games to reduce the need to speak loudly “as forced exhalation increases the risk of transmission”

Burnham said that while they hadn’t been able to reach the governor directly, they did have success in connecting with the heads of the health department. “We had a good working rapport with them and they said they understood and were pretty sympathetic. We worked back and forth, negotiating with them.” At present, Burnham himself has opened four locations. These all mark the first victory of the CAMO as a group. Colorado's business conditions will also get better and better.(2020/09/25)