LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — As the daily count of COVID-19 cases increase in Larimer County, a May variance allowing some businesses to re-open is in jeopardy of being revoked.

That’s upsetting news for Cactus Grille owner Mike Severance. “This is how I pay my bills. This is how I feed my family. And I’m part of a community that’s’ trying to survive and we’re having a hard time,” he said.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has required the Larimer County Public Health Departmant to create a mitigation plan showing how the county will decrease and stabilize case counts.

“I know that we will regroup and reverse this uptick. But in order to do that, we must all take this seriously and be diligent with handwashing, face coverings and social distancing. We must slow our case count to keep our businesses open. I am confident we will overcome this challenge.”

Tom Gonzales, Director of Larimer County Public Health

The plan, which must be completed by Monday, requires strong community enforcement, compliance plans for face coverings, social distancing and following the required guidelines for businesses.

“If they are going to pull my variance and take away and take away my ability to make a living I need to know why he’s (Governor Polis) doing it and why they (The State Health Department) are doing it and it seems to me like every body is trying to make this work,” Severance said.

Larimer County has two weeks to reverse the trend of increasing cases or the variance could be modified or revoked, impacting restaurants, breweries, places of worship, public gathering sizes and graduations.

Brandon Dill, who lives in Loveland and owns Big Dill Marketing, said, “It would be a bummer for sure having to do everthing at home. Downtown Loveland is all about coming out and enjoying the sunshine.”