Six metro space counties stated they’re maintaining or extending their public well being orders requiring face coverings indoors by means of Feb. 3.
DENVER — Amid a rise in COVID-19 instances, the Metropolis of Denver on Tuesday prolonged its masks order for public indoor areas by means of Feb. 3.
It is a part of a regional effort with neighboring counties – together with Boulder, Broomfield, Jefferson, Adams and Arapahoe counties – to maintain or prolong their public well being orders requiring face coverings in indoor public settings.
The Denver public well being order went into impact in November and was beforehand set to run out Jan. 3, however the metropolis prolonged the order as a result of “rising instances of COVID-19 and the emergence of the omicron variant in Colorado,” in line with a information launch.
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“In November, Denver and far of the metro space took the mandatory steps to curb the rising unfold of COVID-19 and scale back the harmful strain on our hospital methods. Our efforts weren’t in useless,” Mayor Michael Hancock stated within the launch. “Because the Omicron variant continues to unfold throughout this vacation season, and hospital capability stays strained, we merely can’t afford to let up now.”
The general public well being order requires face coverings in Denver for everybody age 2 and older in all public indoor areas. Below the order, if a enterprise or venue can confirm that at the least 95% of individuals within the facility are totally vaccinated, then face coverings aren’t required.
The order’s extension was completed in cooperation with the Metro Denver Partnership for Well being (MDPH), which incorporates all counties within the metro Denver space aside from Douglas County.
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“Final month’s COVID-19 surge was lowered as a result of individuals in our communities wore masks and obtained vaccinated, together with booster doses,” stated Daybreak Comstock, govt director of Jefferson County Public Well being, in a launch. “Persevering with these methods will save lives as we expertise the fast development of the omicron variant in addition to growing influenza instances. We can’t turn into complacent.”
As of Tuesday, there have been 119 sufferers hospitalized with COVID-19 in Denver, in line with the town Division of Public Well being and Surroundings (DDPHE).
The state’s seven-day positivity fee is 12.58%, in line with the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Surroundings.
“We should proceed to remain the course on science-based management measures like face coverings to make sure hospital beds can be found for anybody in want,” stated Bob McDonald, govt director of DDPHE within the launch. “Whereas face coverings are a instrument to assist handle this wave of the virus, vaccines are in the end our means out of the pandemic. The emergence of a brand new variant underscores the significance of not solely getting the COVID-19 vaccine however getting a booster dose as properly.”
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