Masks No Longer Required Outdoors In Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Masks are no longer required in outdoor public settings in Jefferson County, public health officials announced Monday.

The county's amended mask order goes into effect immediately, and will remain until May 6 unless it's rescinded or amended again, public health officials said.

People are still required to wear masks in indoor public spaces when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained between non-household members, Jefferson County Public Health said. The indoor mask requirement applies regardless of vaccination status.

The updated order "is reflective of the great progress Jefferson County has made with getting residents vaccinated against COVID-19," the agency said in a news release.

“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 of Jefferson County Public Health.

"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.”

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People are still required to wear masks on buses, taxis, trains, planes and ride shares, public health officials said.

“This pandemic is not yet over," Comstock said. "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.”

Those who have underlying health conditions or who are engaged in high risk activities are still advised to wear masks outdoors, county public health officials said.

“Indoor spaces pose a greater risk than outdoor spaces, but outdoor spaces are not entirely without risk,” 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.”

Around 27 percent of Coloradans are immune to the virus due to vaccination and/or prior infection, according to modeling done by the Colorado School of Public Health team that advises Gov. Jared Polis. Around 68 percent of Coloradans age 65 years and older are estimated to be immune, and hospitalizations of older adults has declined; however wearing masks in public will prevent "substantive" numbers of deaths and hospitalizations, the modeling shows.

Between 70 and 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated to stop the spread of COVID-19, public health officials said.

>> More information about Jeffco's amended mask order can be found here.