Jefferson County Issues Face Covering Mandate

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Jefferson County Public Health issued an emergency public health order Tuesday that requires all residents and visitors to wear a mask or face covering in public when social distancing guidelines can't be followed. The mask order goes into effect Tuesday at 5 p.m., officials said.

The order "does not require face coverings when in private residences, or in a personal vehicle when traveling alone or with members of your household," county officials stated in a news release.

There has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County since mid-June, health officials said. During the week of June 14, the county saw 76 new cases — the lowest number per week since the beginning of March. By comparison, the week of July 5 saw 230 new cases, officials said. Hospitalizations have also begun to rise again, both in Jefferson County and across the Denver metro area.

“As cases have started to increase sharply across the Denver Metro Area and in Jefferson County, we are looking at the tools we have to prevent the surges that are happening in other parts of our country, including bordering states, from happening here,” said Mark Johnson, executive director at Jeffco Public Health.

“While we have always strongly encouraged our residents to wear face coverings, we are joining others in the Denver Metro Area to take it a step further and make them mandatory.”

Many residents and community partners have urged the department to issue a mask order, Jeffco health officials said.

“Wearing a mask, along with social distancing, is one of the best things we can do to look out for one another right now,” Johnson said.

“To me, when it means I’m helping keep my loved ones from getting very ill, and that we can all get back to normal a little sooner, it makes a great deal of sense.”

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A hearing will be held during the scheduled Jefferson County Board of Health meeting July 21 to decide whether to amend or extend the order.

The county posted the following exceptions for the order:

"The Order provides exceptions for health conditions, certain work conditions, first responder unforeseen emergencies, children under 5 years of age and for situations in which CDPHE has explicitly permitted the removal of a face covering. Face coverings should not be worn by young children under age 3, anyone who has medical conditions that prevent them from wearing it, or anyone who is unable to remove it without assistance."