New Mask Order In Jeffco: Rules, Guidelines, Exemptions

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — The Jefferson County Board of Health voted Monday to adopt a new public health order, which requires everyone ages 3 and older to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. The order takes effect Wednesday.

Businesses and venues that implement a voluntary vaccine verification program, which assures full vaccination of all employees, staff and customers, will also be exempt from requiring masks.

Mask mandates also take effect Wednesday in Denver, Arapahoe and Adams counties. Boulder County already requires masks to be worn indoors.

Exemptions to Jeffco's mask mandate include:

• Those who are hearing impaired;
• Those sitting at a restaurant or bar;
• Law enforcement and other first responders;
• Those who are performing in an arts event, as long as they maintain 12 feet of distance from others;
• Those who are swimming in public pools or participating in certain sports activities;
• Those who are participating in a life rite or religious service that requires masks to be removed.

Jeffco public health officials took many public comments Monday before the vote was held on the order. The majority of comments were from residents and local business owners who oppose the indoor mask mandate, and an anti-mask mandate demonstration was held outside the Jeffco Public Health offices.

But health officials cited recent progress that was made after mask orders were reinstated.

"When vaccination is not possible, a layered viral mitigation strategy including wearing Face Coverings, testing, social distancing, hand hygiene, and ventilation decreases risk of transmission of COVID-19," Jeffco's public health order reads.

"Other Colorado counties have recently implemented universal Face Covering orders, which have significantly increased the incidence of mask wearing. For example, Larimer County saw a substantial increase in the number of individuals wearing Face Coverings after passing an order on October 20th."

As of Monday, more than 1,500 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in our state, and 82 percent of them are unvaccinated, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. More than 1,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Jeffco, officials said.

ICU beds in metro Denver continue to hover dangerously close to capacity, and as of Tuesday, staffed ICU beds had already reached capacity in Arapahoe County, public health officials said.

Jeffco Public Health issued the following guidelines Tuesday for keeping safe during the holidays:

• Limit gatherings to those who have been vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine is available for all residents age 5 and older at convenient and FREE locations across the county.
  • While it is too late to be fully protected via vaccination from COVID-19 before Thanksgiving (Nov. 25) or Hanukkah (begins Nov. 29), there is still time to get vaccinated to receive some protection (even full protection, depending on the vaccine type and date received) before gathering for New Year’s Eve and other late December holidays, such as Christmas (Dec. 25) and Kwanzaa (Dec. 26).
  • In addition, you and your loved ones can feel more peace of mind with the added safety of COVID-19 boosters, available to all Colorado residents age 18 and older.
  • Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination and make an appointment as soon as possible.
• Wear a mask and practice physical distancing while doing your holiday shopping, and any time you are out in a public, indoor space. Whenever possible, use curbside pickup for groceries to avoid busy retail environments.
Testing locations are available across Jeffco and the entire state, and Coloradans can also order free at-home testing kits if accessing a testing site isn’t possible.
• Whenever possible, host gatherings outdoors and with smaller groups of people. Outdoor gatherings are safer than those held indoors, and the fewer people who attend a gathering, the fewer chances for transmission of COVID-19.
  • Keeping gatherings shorter also reduces the risk of COVID-19.
  • If you do gather indoors, open windows and doors if it is safe to do so, and run an air-conditioner, heater or an air purifier to improve ventilation.
• If traveling, follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guidance for traveling safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines include delaying travel until fully vaccinated, wearing masks in indoor public transportation areas (required by federal law) and making sure you know the local COVID-19 regulations of your destination.
• Keep a list, and check it twice! While the virus doesn’t particularly care who is naughty or nice, knowing the names and contact information of everyone at your holiday gathering can help make sure everyone is notified quickly in the case of a COVID-19 exposure.
• Before gathering, assess your risk level and make decisions from there. Every Jeffco resident should make informed decisions before gathering with others outside their household and should limit unnecessary risks. It’s OK to say no to a social situation you don’t feel comfortable in!