Tri-County Health Department ends mask requirements

MASKING IN ALL INDOOR SPACES IS STILL HIGHLY ENCOURAGED

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) Board of Health voted to direct Dr. John Douglas, TCHD’s Executive Director, to let mask requirements expire in Adams and Arapahoe counties Feb. 5. The Board decided that this week was an appropriate time to end masking requirements via public health order and to allow schools and communities to decide what works best in their contexts.

“While wearing a well-fitting face covering is still an important COVID-19 prevention measure, especially in indoor public spaces, we do think it is reasonable to end the public health orders requiring them now. We have worked closely with our school districts to ensure they have capacity to implement a range of prevention measures to accommodate particularly at-risk students and to minimize disruptions to in-person learning,” said Douglas.

Douglas said that case trends following the widespread omicron surge are now dramatically declining even more rapidly than expected. For example, while rates in both counties are still very high, they have declined by over 65 per cent since the peak on Jan. 11. “Our projections are that rates will be under 300 per 100,000 for both counties by Feb. 4 and will fall below the CDC definition of “high” transmission (100 per 100,000) by Feb. 7” Douglas said.

Vaccination as the best protection

The most recent modeling report from the Colorado School of Public Health estimates that 42 per cent of all Coloradoans have already been infected with omicron and that 78 per cent of residents have omicron-specific immunity due to either infection or vaccination. While infection from natural immunity may not last as long as that from vaccines, it will likely last at least three months, providing a bridge to the warmer months of the year when COVID-19 transmission is less of a risk.

Vaccinations continue to be the best protection against COVID-19 so it is important to stay up to date on your vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine is available for children 5 to 17 and all persons 12 and up should receive a Pfizer booster five months after completing their primary series. Adults 18 and older can choose from Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines, however mRNA vaccines are recommended.

While vaccine protection is not 100% in preventing infection, it is highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly if kept up to date with recommended boosters. Parents of vaccine-eligible children are encouraged to contact their healthcare providers or visit the TCHD website if you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and where to get it.