Jefferson County Board of Health Votes to Require Masks in Local Government Buildings

During a public Special Jefferson County Board of Health Meeting on October 7, the Jefferson County Board of Health voted to approve Public Health Order 21-004, which requires that all individuals ages 2 and older wear a mask in all indoor spaces at all county and municipal government buildings. The Order is effective beginning October 9 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until Jefferson County has experienced at least twenty-one consecutive days in CDC’s moderate or low transmission categories.

Individuals in a non-public, defined workspace within a county or municipal building in which 90 percent of the individuals present in that space have shown proof of full vaccination are exempt from the Order. Additional exemptions to the mask requirement are outlined in Sections 3 and 4 in the Order.

Additionally, the Board directed Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) to prepare a draft Public Health Order which if approved would require all county and municipal government workers to get tested for COVID-19 weekly or submit proof of full vaccination in order to report to work in person. The draft has been posted online for public review here, and the Board will host an additional meeting to review and discuss the draft on Monday, October 11 at noon. For information about how to join the meeting or provide written or verbal comment regarding the draft Order, visit the Board of Health webpage.

“In service to our Jeffco community and continued commitment to promoting health and preventing disease for our residents, it’s important that we take steps to protect both local government workers and residents who rely on us for services by ensuring doing business with us is a low-risk activity,” said Greg Deranleau, President of the Board of Health. “Universal masking in county and municipal buildings is one easy, safe and effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we look forward to discussing further evidence-based strategies, including routine testing, next week.”

Masking in indoor public spaces is a safe, effective mitigation tool. The CDC recommends everyone wear a mask in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 community transmission is substantial or high. Jefferson County remains in CDC’s high transmission category.

To view the full Public Health Order 21-004 requiring all county and municipal workers to wear masks, click here. For more information about the Jefferson County Board of Health, including information about upcoming meetings, visit www.jeffco.us/3413/Board-of-Health. For information about COVID-19 in Jefferson County, visit www.jeffco.us/coronavirus.

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we do collectively to prevent illness and premature death and promote health in our neighborhoods and communities. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is a nationally accredited health department committed to promoting and protecting health across the lifespan for all people through prevention, education and partnerships. To learn more about JCPH visit https://www.jeffco.us/public-health. You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.