Douglas County Plans To Leave Tri-County Health Over Mask Order

DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO — Douglas County is planning to leave the Tri-County Health Department, commissioners announced Thursday.

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners has directed the county's attorney to give written notice of withdrawal from the department. The board is also opting out of the mask mandate order, officials said.

The announcement comes after Tri-County's top officials voted Wednesday to implement a mandatory face covering order, with the stipulation that municipalities are able to opt out of the order.

Roger Partridge, Douglas County commissioner and board chair, said his board "directed staff to begin the work of creating a separate public health department that will appropriately meet the needs of Douglas County.”

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“Regarding the mask mandate opt-out, our remarkably favorable public health data, paired with the community’s current 75% mask-wearing voluntary compliance observed by TCHD, and based on Dr. Douglas’ recommendation that a mask mandate was not necessary for Douglas County, led us to this conclusion,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said in a statement.

In a tweet sent Wednesday, Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas said that cases in the county "are very low."

"Voluntary masking is at 75%," Thomas' tweet read. "Adams county and Aurora were areas recommended for masks. We are inundated with calls, emails, demanding that we opt out. We are listening."

In a statement issued Thursday, Thomas said she disagreed with the mask mandate for her county.

“We question the enforceability and efficacy of the mask mandate order, believing that trusting our citizens and business community to continue doing what they do, without a mandate, is the best approach,” she said.

The Tri-County Health Department also covers Adams and Arapahoe counties.