COVID-19 Corona Virus - How You Can Prepare

ttps://www.statnews.com/2020/02/25/cdc-expects-community-spread-of-coronavirus-as-top-official-warns-disruptions-could-be-severe/

THIS woman warned the king in FEB. IN APRIL HE WAS FIRING HER.........THIS tragic tabulation of dire consequences,is on the king's head...to behead him would NOT do justice.....your loyalty to the king makes
YOU(collectively) responsible for this unnecessary number.....jmo

Jefferson County Variance Fact Sheet

Earlier this week, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved Jefferson County's variance application. Jefferson County Public Health created this fact sheet to help explain details of the variance. Get more information at www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1234 .

The county’s variance addresses: gathering size; places of worship; gyms; indoor retail malls; outdoor recreation; indoor and outdoor museums and educational experiences; graduations; brew pubs, distilleries and other similar places; event centers; and some additional businesses not specifically provided for in the state’s order.

NOTE: Dr. Johnson will give county commissioners an update on Tuesday, July 14 at 8 a.m. during our virtual board meeting.
You can weigh in during public comment or tune in here:
jeffco.webex.com/jeffco/onstage/g.php?MT...18538b17bf2e681e4ea2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2020

CONTACT:

Ashley Sever
Public Affairs Manager
720-431-6057
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Nikki Work
Sr. Public Affairs Coordinator, Media Lead
720-431-6071
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JCPH Issues Emergency Public Health Order Requiring All Jeffco Residents to Wear Face Coverings

Jefferson County, Colo. – Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) today issued an Emergency Public Health Order effective July 14 at 5 p.m. that requires Jefferson County residents and visitors to wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public settings when unable to maintain 6 foot social distancing. 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. A hearing will be held during the scheduled Jefferson County Board of Health meeting on July 21 with a discussion on whether to amend or extend the order.

In Jefferson County, there has been a large increase in COVID-19 cases since mid-June. During the week of June 14, we saw 76 new cases, our lowest number of cases per week since the beginning of March. For comparison, last week (week of July 5) we saw 230 new cases, a three-fold increase. 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 Dr. Mark B. Johnson, Executive Director at JCPH. “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.”

There is a growing body of scientific research that shows the use of cloth face coverings helps prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially from people who are contagious but do not have symptoms. Additionally, face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in a community when they are widely used by people in public settings.

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or raises their voice. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

In recent days, Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) have called on local communities to take action to increase mask wearing among their residents, noting significant benefits to public health and economic activity.

“We applaud JCPH for taking steps to increase mask wearing in Jefferson County,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, MPH, Executive Director at CDPHE. “Evidence shows that when more people wear a mask, transmission of COVID-19 can be reduced, which means fewer people become ill with the virus and we can continue to rebuild our economy.”

Many residents and community partners have urged the department to issue a mask order, and this move is also supported by many local businesses who believe this action will help to avoid a retreat in the county’s economic opening.

“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.”

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.

Click here to read the full Emergency Public Health Order. For more information about face coverings, including tips for how to wear them and frequently asked questions, visit www.jeffco.us/4056/Mask-Guidance or covid19.colorado.gov/mask-guidance .

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we as a society 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 www.jeffco.us/public-health . You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.

Customers will be required to wear masks inside all King Soopers, City Market stores starting July 22
by: Eric Ruble, KDVR | Posted: Jul 15, 2020

DENVER (KDVR) — National grocery chain Kroger announced Wednesday that customers will be required to wear masks inside all of its stores starting July 22. Colorado-based King Soopers and City Market are both Kroger-owned stores.

The company encouraged those who cannot wear masks to put on a face shield or other face covering.

“If they’re unable to wear a mask or an alternative design, we request that they use our ecommerce services like pickup or delivery. To support all households during the COVID-19 pandemic, our grocery pickup service remains free,” King Soopers said.

Jeffco Taking Steps to Reduce COVID-19 Case Increase with Goal of Avoiding Business Closures
July 24, 2020

Jefferson County, Colo. – Despite several public health orders over the last few weeks and concerted efforts, Jefferson County has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases – from 388 cases (probable and confirmed) during the weeks of June 27-July 10, to just over 580 total cases for the weeks of July 11-24, meaning the county has surpassed its two-week case limit set forth in its first variance. As a result, the county must implement a mitigation plan to bring these numbers within the threshold limit or risk having its variance rescinded.

“At this time, we are looking at how we stem this tide of increased COVID-19 cases, while allowing businesses and other entities to remain open for residents and visitors and not cause any more pain to our economy,” said Dr. Mark Johnson, Executive Director of JCPH. “Due to an overall rise in virus cases around the nation and state, many areas are already having variances rescinded, which is causing another closure of certain types of businesses that are still feeling the economic effects of the state’s first Stay-at-Home Order.”

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) has been constantly looking at ways to mitigate the rise of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County so we can keep our local variance. One such mitigation strategy is Public Health Order 20-007 enacted on July 20, which ensures that venues have a solid plan in place before holding larger events with more than one designated activity. This order requires venues of large events to provide JCPH a plan, and have it approved in writing, outlining virus safety precautions they plan to take to ensure compliance with the state’s PHO 20-28.

Another mitigation strategy is Public Health Order 20-008, a new face covering order issued today that expands on the state’s mask order and requires everyone ages 11 and older in Jeffco to wear a face covering when in indoor and outdoor public settings. JCPH is currently working to release other recommendations for areas of mitigation for our community.

“Most counties in Colorado are seeing an increase in positive cases and we are doing what is needed so that we don’t lose the great progress our community has made over the last several months,” said Johnson. “We want to remind everyone of the importance of wearing face coverings, the need to practice excellent hygiene and the need for social distancing to be able to continue doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 to protect our community and our businesses.”

The original Jefferson County variance, granted on June 8 by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, allowed for more lenient capacity limits for group gatherings across all venues, including places of worship. It also allowed re-opening of shopping malls, fitness centers, brewpubs, distilleries and other venues. The original local variance allowed for indoor gatherings of 50 people, or 50% occupancy, while outdoor settings allowed for 125 people. School graduations were allowed to take place as a part of that variance, with a plan approved by JCPH. To see the annotated Jefferson County variance next to the Public Health Order, and information about how this variance loss could affect you or your business, see our Safer-at-Home web page.

Find more information about COVID-19 cases and other local data on the Case Summary web page.

About Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

Overwhelming evidence shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted by droplets, including microscopic droplets, or aerosols. Therefore, anything we can do to keep spit, saliva, snot, phlegm and moist breath from traveling from an infected individual to a susceptible individual will help decrease spread. There are three commonly accepted ways of doing this: increasing distance between a person with the virus and another person, putting barriers between the faces of the two people, and cleaning any objects on which the person with the virus may have deposited droplets. That’s why guidance from public health includes increasing social (physical) distancing; using masks, face shields, Plexiglas barriers, etc.; and practicing personal and communal hygiene. If we can accomplish these three interventions of separation and cleanliness, we can greatly limit the spread of this virus.

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we as a society 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 www.jeffco.us/public-health . You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.

JCPH Issues Public Health Order 20-008 Requiring Mask-Wearing Outdoors
July 24, 2020

Jefferson County, Colo. – Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH), at the direction of the Jefferson County Board of Health, today issued a new Public Health Order 20-008 (PHO 20-008) that requires everyone in Jeffco ages 11 and older to wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public settings — both indoors and outdoors — when unable to maintain 6 foot social distancing. Currently, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) mask order primarily applies to indoor settings. PHO 20-008 seeks to further protect our residents by requiring use of face coverings in outdoor settings as well. PHO 20-008 is effective July 24 at midnight until further notice.

“After an extensive discussion during our Board of Health meeting held on July 21, which included public comment from community members, the Board unanimously agreed it was important to implement a local mask order that best protects our residents based on the science and evidence currently available to us,” said Greg Deranleau, President of the Jefferson County Board of Health. “We know there is great benefit to wearing a mask outdoors when it’s difficult to keep 6 foot distance between yourself and others who don’t live with you, and we want this prevention strategy to be as effective as possible. Mandating masks outdoors is also consistent with the requirements set by other local public health agencies in the Denver Metro Area.”

This new order is a core part of JCPH’s proactive efforts to quickly curb the recent acceleration in COVID-19 cases in Jeffco. As of today, the county has surpassed its two-week case limit set forth in its first variance. The limit set by CDPHE in Jeffco’s first variance is 580 cases in a two-week period; from July 11-24 we have had at least 584 total cases (confirmed and probable). That means we must implement a mitigation plan that gets our cases back below the limit or we risk losing our variance.

PHO 20-008 does not require face coverings when in private residences, or in a personal vehicle when traveling alone or with members of your household. The order also provides exceptions for medical conditions, certain work conditions, first responder unforeseen emergencies, children 10 years of age younger, and for other situations in which CDPHE has explicitly permitted the removal of a face covering. Face coverings should not be worn by young children under age 2, anyone who cannot medically tolerate wearing it, or anyone who is unable to remove it without assistance.

“We deeply thank our Jeffco residents for working with us during this time and for continuing to take the steps needed to slow the spread of this disease,” said Dr. Mark B. Johnson, Executive Director at JCPH. “We know it has been a long, hard summer, and we hope that by working together we can keep our businesses open and community safe in a sustainable way. Remember to keep caring for one another and doing your part.”

Click here to read the full Public Health Order. For more information about face coverings, including tips for how to wear them, how to clean them and more, visit www.jeffco.us/4056/Mask-Guidance or covid19.colorado.gov/mask-guidance .

About Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

Overwhelming evidence shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted by droplets, including microscopic droplets, or aerosols. Therefore, anything we can do to keep spit, saliva, snot, phlegm and moist breath from traveling from an infected individual to a susceptible individual will help decrease spread. There are three commonly accepted ways of doing this: increasing distance between a person with the virus and another person, putting barriers between the faces of the two people, and cleaning any objects on which the person with the virus may have deposited droplets. That’s why guidance from public health includes increasing social (physical) distancing; using masks, face shields, Plexiglas barriers, etc.; and practicing personal and communal hygiene. If we can accomplish these three interventions of separation and cleanliness, we can greatly limit the spread of this virus.

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we as a society 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 www.jeffco.us/public-health . You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.

Jefferson County At Risk of Tighter Restrictions
Posted on: October 16, 2020

Jefferson County, Colo. – Due to a continued increase in COVID-19 cases, Jefferson County is at risk of tighter restrictions, including being moved to Level 3 of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Dial Framework. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is calling on Jeffco residents to stay strong and focused on preventing the spread of this virus, so we can move forward together as a community and keep our businesses open.

“It’s normal to feel exhausted by COVID-19 and the things we have to do to prevent the spread of the virus. Many of us are feeling ‘COVID-19 fatigue,’” said Christine Billings, Head of Jefferson County Public Health’s Office of Pandemic Response. “We have been carrying the weight of this pandemic for much longer than we expected. But the virus is still circulating, and we can’t give up now. We must dig deep and work together as a community to slow the spread.”

In the past two weeks, there have been 1,013 total cases of the virus in Jefferson County, or 174 per 100,000 residents (10/2-10/15). The limit to maintain our Level 2 status is 175 cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period.

We expect to surpass our Level 2 limits on or around Friday, October 16. When this occurs, Jefferson County will be been given a grace period during which we must get our cases back below those limits. During this time, we will meet with CDPHE to discuss current trends, local-level considerations and mitigation strategies. Over an agreed upon timeline, CDPHE will assess whether local trends are improving, the risk to the community and the strength of local mitigation efforts. After considering all of these factors, CDPHE will determine next steps needed to protect our community, which could include moving our county to a more restrictive level (Level 3).

Being moved to Level 3 of the Dial Framework would mean stricter capacity limits for a variety of businesses and activities, which would be detrimental for our community. According to CDPHE’s guidelines, Level 3 restrictions include (but are not limited to):

• Retail locations would be limited to 25% capacity.
• Restaurants would be limited to 25% capacity or 50 people per room, whichever is less.
• Bars would remain closed unless they serve food (restaurant limits would apply).
• Offices would be limited to 25% of their employees being able to work in person.
• Gyms and fitness centers would be limited to virtual operations, or with groups of 10 or fewer outdoors only.
• Outdoor events would be limited to 75 people max, based on the state’s Social Distance Calculator. Indoor events would be limited to a maximum of 25 people, using the calculator.
• Houses of worship and life rites would be limited to 25% of the posted occupancy limit indoors, not to exceed 50 people per room, whichever is less.

Additionally, our local variance could be permanently rescinded. Since CDPHE will only grant site-specific variances going forward, losing the variance would be a significant hardship on the community.

“As a community, we have the power to choose our next steps in the COVID-19 recovery process,” Billings said. “We can move forward if everyone comes together to take important prevention steps in our daily lives. We’ve curbed spikes like this before, and we can do it again.”

Everyone can help keep our community open by taking the following actions:

• Follow the “three Ws” — wear a mask, watch your distance (stay 6 feet from others who don’t live with you) and wash your hands.
• Avoid gatherings with people who do not live with you, including small social gatherings like backyard parties and family gatherings.
• Stay home if you’re sick, and keep your children home if they are sick.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested. Find more info about testing and a listing of test sites in and around Jeffco here.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs, light switches and your phone. Find tips for keeping your home safe here.
• Plan ahead and choose safe alternatives for traditional holiday celebrations. Get tips for celebrating Halloween and Día de lost Muertos here.
• Get a flu shot. While it will not stop you from getting COVID-19, it will protect you and your family from the flu this season and keep you safe from the potential compounding complications of having flu and COVID-19. Get info about local flu clinics here.

For more information about COVID-19 in Jefferson County, including local trends, guidelines, community resources and more, visit www.jeffco.us/coronavirus . You can also learn more about CDPHE’s Dial Framework and how it applies to counties by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we as a society 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 www.jeffco.us/public-health . You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.

Park County COVID-19 Page
Updated: October 18, 2020 7:35 PM

Park County Public Health is closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 outbreak and remain in collaboration with local, regional, and state partners. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are committed to providing reliable and timely information through frequent updates.
More information at parkco.us/755/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19