Coronavirus Case Rates Down In Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Coronavirus case rates are down in Jefferson County, public health data shows. Between Aug. 2 and Aug. 15, 425 cases were confirmed, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

When the county's first variance request was approved in early June, officials were given a threshold limit of 580 cases for a two-week period.

"We are hopeful that — as long as cases continue to decline or stabilize — we may be able to hold on to our Jefferson County variance," county officials said in a statement.

A variance is a leniency granted to businesses and churches that eases restrictions if the county proves that cases are under a certain level.

If Jeffco loses its variance, some businesses would be forced to scale back their services, and others may have to close.

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The current variance allows more lenient capacity limits for group gatherings, event centers, places of worship, malls, brewpubs, distilleries and other venues.

Between July 5 and July 18, 486 cases were confirmed in the county, and the state warned Jeffco officials that they were at risk of losing the variance.

Mark Johnson, Jeffco Public Health's executive director, said the county has to work hard to keep businesses open.

"Having our local variance revoked would be detrimental to our residents and local businesses," Johnson said in a statement released earlier this month.

"In addition to requiring plans for large gatherings, we need residents to take this very seriously and do their part to help keep our cases down — wear a mask in when in public, stay 6 feet away from others who don't live in your home, wash your hands frequently and get tested and isolate if you have symptoms of COVID-19."