One Year Anniversary of First Known COVID-19 Case in Jeffco

Friday, March 5, marks the one-year anniversary of the first known case of COVID-19 arriving in Jefferson County. Together, we remember the 759 Jeffco lives lost to this deadly virus and wish for a healthy recovery for those battling COVID. Since the pandemic began, more than 37,340 Jeffco residents have tested positive for COVID. The virus also has disproportionately hit communities of color.

Thank you, health care workers! St. Anthony’s Hospital doctors and nurses during a tour of the COVID-19 floor.

The last year has challenged us in so many ways, including the pandemic’s impact on our local economy. One in four Jeffco businesses has closed. Jeffco’s unemployment rate hovers at 7.9 percent and consumer spending is down 9.5 percent. Thankfully, those economic indicators are slowly beginning to improve.

The pandemic also revealed the best of Jefferson County – a community coming together during COVID response and recovery. Doctors and nurses at St. Anthony’s and Lutheran Hospitals risked their own lives to save others. Jeffco Public Health led (and continues to lead) the coordinated effort on COVID testing, equitable distribution of vaccinations, contact tracing and much more. Local Chambers of Commerce partnered with the county to provide PPE, business grants and marketing support to local shops and restaurants. Jeffco staff worked tirelessly to put in place guidance from county commissioners to respond swiftly to COVID challenges.

CARES Act dollars also helped to ease the impact of the pandemic. Jeffco commissioners over the last year gave $13.5 million in grants to 660 Jeffco businesses and more than $5 million in bulk food and grants to Jeffco nonprofits. Recently, the federal government awarded Jeffco another $17 million in rental assistance relief. We also set aside CARES Act dollars for cities. Mayors with their city councils, in turn, used the funds for more business relief, nonprofits and more – and that’s good for all of Jeffco. For more about CARES Act funding, visit: bit.ly/3sBeJTR .

We’re not out of the woods yet but hope is in sight as Jeffco reached a new milestone recently with 70 percent of adults aged 70 and older receiving their vaccine. What’s more, Jeffco was the second county in the metro area to recently move to level blue on the state’s COVID dial. That's good for communities and businesses – for example, restaurants, gyms, spas and indoor events are now operating at 50 percent capacity.

To ensure you have timely information, our public affairs team created a one-stop webpage about vaccines, COVID cases, resources, a link to the state’s COVID dial, testing sites and much more at: www.jeffco.us/3999/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19 . The website is updated regularly so please check it often. If you can’t find what you need, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Above all, a heartfelt thanks to our incredible Jeffco staff, community and business partners, elected officials, members of our community and so many others for their collaboration and steadfast efforts over the last year.

And, thank you for protecting yourself and your neighbors by wearing a mask, socially distancing, avoiding large gatherings and getting vaccinated. We don’t want to lose the ground that we’ve worked so hard to gain. Your efforts will continue to make a difference!

Stay well,

Lesley Dahlkemper
Jefferson County Commissioner
Office: 303.271.8510

www.dahlkemperforjeffco.com