Jefferson County Public Health Amends Local Mask Order

Graphic from Jefferson County Public Health

From Jefferson County Public Health:

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) today (4/5/2021) amended the countywide mask order (Public Health Order 20-008), which requires anyone in Jeffco to wear a face covering when in indoor public spaces when 6 ft. distancing cannot be maintained from non-household members. Previously, masks had also been required in outdoor public spaces in the county. The amended PHO 20-008 further aligns with the newly released State of Colorado Executive Order D 2021 079, and is reflective of the great progress Jefferson County has made with getting residents vaccinated against COVID-19. JCPH’s PHO 20-008 is effective April 5 and will remain in place until May 6 unless it is rescinded or amended.

“We are making good progress on COVID-19 vaccinations — especially among our high-risk priority populations — and folks are getting outside more where the risk of transmission is reduced,” said Dr. Dawn Comstock, Executive Director, JCPH. “While we are at a place where we can remove the outdoor mask requirements, we are asking our residents and visitors to continue wearing their masks indoors a bit longer so we can stay on the right path. After vaccination, masking and social distancing remain the most effective weapons we have against COVID-19 transmission.”

JCPH’s order supersedes the new State of Colorado Executive Order, as it is slightly more restrictive to better address current COVID-19 transmission in the county and local needs. Specifically, people age 11 and older in Jefferson County must adhere to the following mask requirements according to PHO 20-008 and federal mandates:

• Continue to wear a mask that properly covers your nose and mouth in indoor public spaces where 6 ft. distancing cannot be maintained from non-household members and regardless of the number of people in the space or their vaccination status.
• Per federal requirements, continue to wear a mask when traveling via public conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares) in the U.S.

Variant growth and changes in individual behaviors are major sources of uncertainty at this point in the pandemic. According to recent modeling done by the Colorado School of Public Health team advising the Governor, approximately 27% of Coloradans are currently immune due to vaccination and/or prior infection. Further, while about 68% of Coloradans age 65 years and older are estimated to be immune, and hospitalizations of older adults has declined, modeling suggests that continuing to wear face coverings when in public spaces, at least until mid-May, will prevent substantive numbers of deaths and hospitalizations. Public health experts estimate that 70-85% of the population needs to be vaccinated to stop the ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

“This pandemic is not yet over. Jeffco has once again breached the upper limits of the buffer zone which enables us to continue operating under Dial 3.0 Level Blue, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment may move Jeffco to Level Yellow this week. Thus, indoor masking is needed to help keep those still trying to get a vaccine safe, and to prevent another surge so we can work towards a summer that looks more like normal,” Dr. Comstock said.

Although masking in outdoor public spaces is no longer required, it is still recommended for individuals with underlying health conditions or those who are engaged in high risk activities.

“Indoor spaces pose a greater risk than outdoor spaces, but outdoor spaces are not entirely without risk,” Dr. Comstock said. “When you’re spending time outside, socializing with larger groups is a greater risk than socializing with smaller groups. Being near others who are shouting, singing or breathing heavily during physical activity is a greater risk. Each individual should assess their risk level when they are outside, and I hope people will have a mask handy in their pocket when in outdoor public spaces so it is easily accessible whenever they find themselves in a higher risk scenario.”

Until we are closer to reaching herd immunity, and until we better understand if vaccinated people can transmit the virus to others, masks should be worn indoors regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status except in certain situations as outlined in PHO 20-008. In addition to wearing masks, the spread of the virus can be reduced or prevented through social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, frequent hand washing, testing, isolation if a person is sick, quarantine if a person has been exposed, case investigation, contact tracing and vaccination.

For more information about the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit www.jeffco.us/coronavirus. Download the full PHO 20-008 here.

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.