New Indoor Mask Order: What To Know In Littleton

LITTLETON, CO — People will again be required to wear masks indoors in Littleton's public spaces after a new health order takes effect Wednesday.

The Tri-County Health Department Board voted Monday to issue the new mandate, which requires everyone ages 2 and older to wear a mask in Arapahoe and Adams counties. Indoor mask mandates were also issued in Jefferson County and Denver.

Those who can't wear a face mask for medical reasons are exempt from the order.

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.

The order will remain in effect until Jan. 2, and will continue until ICU bed capacity reaches 10 percent or higher for 14 consecutive days, public health officials said.

As of Monday, staffed ICU bed availability in metro Denver was at 5.8 percent, and 100 percent of ICU beds are being used in Arapahoe County, officials said.

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"Masks have proven to be effective in reducing the spread of this virus, especially when combined with other prevention efforts" said John Douglas, Jr., executive director of the Tri-County Health Department.

"With the holiday season upon us, this order is necessary to try to avoid hospital capacity being breached by a growing number of hospitalizations and running the risk of having to ration medical care."

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.