Jefferson County Issues Indoor Mask Recommendation

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Jefferson County Public Health issued a new mask recommendation Thursday.

Everyone, regardless of whether they've been vaccinated against the coronavirus, is urged to wear a mask indoors, the agency said. The recommendation comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Tuesday for regions that have 'high' or 'substantial' coronavirus case rates:

• Substantial: Areas with between 50 and 99.99 cases per 100,000 people in a week
• High: Areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 in a week

Earlier this week, the CDC classified Jefferson County and other metro Denver areas as 'moderate;' however, as of Thursday, the federal agency classified Jeffco as 'substantial.'

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The federal and local agencies made the recommendation as the delta variant continues to spread rapidly across the U.S., including Colorado.

More than 2,700 cases of the variant have been reported in 48 counties in our state, public health data shows.

Early studies show the delta variant is more infectious — it has around double the hospitalization rate of the alpha variant, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, public health officials said.

“Because vaccine uptake has now stalled and cases of COVID-19 are once again increasing rapidly in Jeffco, and with the Delta variant circulating widely, we all must now take this additional step to protect ourselves and our loved ones, including our children who aren’t yet eligible to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Dawn Comstock, executive director of Jeffco Public Health.

“We know this is discouraging news, especially after months of progress. We don’t want to give up the ground our communities worked so hard to take during this battle against COVID-19. By taking recommended precautions now, we can work to minimize viral transmission to prevent the Delta variant from spreading even further.”

Jefferson County Public Health issued the following guidance for wearing masks:

• Choose a mask that has two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric and a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top.
• Masks should completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps.
• Wash your hands before and after putting your face covering in place.
• Do not touch the face covering again until you remove it.
• Remove your mask to eat and drink and if it is still in good repair, you may continue to use it.

“We knew when we were able to ‘take our masks off’ earlier this summer that there was a possibility of having to put them back on," Comstock said. "Unfortunately, we’re at that point as a community, and it’s very important for everyone to protect themselves and others from the Delta variant.

"The other incredibly important step all members of our community can take is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines are the leading public health strategy to prevent the virus. The vaccines protect against most COVID-19 infections, and prevent nearly all cases of severe illness, hospitalizations and death. You can get a free COVID-19 vaccine close to home any day of the week — don’t wait until it’s too late to protect yourself.”

>> Learn more about how to get vaccinated in Jefferson County here.