Jeffco Health Approves Mask Mandate, Effective 11/24

The Jeffco Board of Health passed a public health order Monday evening that requires masks in public indoor spaces for those 3 years old and older. The order will go into effect Wednesday, November 24 and will remain in effect while the county is in “Substantial or High Transmission.”
Thank you to the more than 30 small business owners who provided live testimony on Monday’s Jefferson County Board of Health meeting. Thank you also to the hundreds of business owners and community members who wrote comments to the board, voicing the myriad burdens this mandate places on businesses and staff.
Approved Fully Vaccinated Facilities
The Order allows an exception to indoor public masking for employers, owners and operators of businesses or other facilities who voluntarily implement proof of vaccination requirements for all employees, staff, visitors and patrons entering their facility and become an Approved Fully Vaccinated Facility. During a grace period now through December 9, JCPH will accept self-certification from a facility and temporarily approve the facility as an Approved Fully Vaccinated Facility. Facilities who wish to self-certify should email HealthEPRReports@jeffco.us with their vaccination policy for employees and patrons.
Where does the Order apply?
Public Health Order 21-006 requires that all individuals age three and older, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces in Jefferson County. The Order applies only to public indoor spaces, such as event spaces, businesses, restaurants, gyms, government buildings and facilities, offices and other spaces that are not considered an individual’s residence. The Order does not apply to private homes.
Masks are not required in any outdoor setting. However, individual businesses and organizers may implement requirements, including outdoor masking.
Are there any exemptions or exceptions to the Order?
  • Individuals who are hearing impaired or otherwise disabled or who are communicating with someone who is hearing impaired or otherwise disabled and where the ability to see the mouth is essential to communication.
  • Individuals who are seated at a food service establishment or actively eating or drinking.
  • Individuals who are asked to temporarily remove their Face Covering for identification purposes in furtherance of a particular service requiring legal identification.
  • Individuals who are actively engaged in a public safety role, such as law enforcement personnel, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel.
  • Individuals who are actively engaged in a performing arts performance, leading religious services, or engaged in other similar activities, so long as the individual maintains at least twelve (12) feet distance from non-household members indoors.
  • Individuals who are receiving a personal, religious, or medical service where the temporary removal of the Face Covering is necessary to perform the service.
  • Individuals who are alone in an enclosed room or only with members of their same Household in an enclosed room.
  • Individuals who are in a swimming pool and actively engaged in a pool activity in which their Face Covering might become wet.
  • Individuals participating in certain indoor sports activities as permitted by Boulder County Public Health’s sports guidance.

What is required of businesses under the Order?
Businesses and owners and operators of public indoor spaces should post signs at their entrances indicating that a mask is required for all individuals age 3 and older in order to enter. Businesses should deny entry to all individuals who do not comply with the requirements of the Order. Signs to print can be found here.

My employee requested a medical exemption to the Order. What should I do?
Each business should evaluate a request for a medical exemption on a case-by-case basis. Employers are encouraged to review the State of Colorado’s Civil Rights Guidance or consult with legal counsel for additional information. Whether a business or facility can (or should) request or require a doctor’s note depends upon the laws applicable to the business and businesses and facilities should consult with legal counsel about their specific circumstances.

What should an employer or business do if a patron refuses to comply with the Order?
Businesses are required to deny individuals entry for failure to wear a mask unless one of the exemptions or exceptions applies. Businesses are encouraged to consult with legal counsel and review the State’s Civil Rights Guidance and determine their obligations under the American with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws.

The full JCPH Public Health Order release can be found here.
FAQs on the Health Order can be found here.
If you have questions regarding this Order, please contact the JCPH at HealthEPR@jeffco.us or view the COVID-19 information on JCPH’s website at www.jeffco.us/coronavirus.

Need masks?
The Arvada Resiliency Taskforce has 120 boxes of masks available at the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. These are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. To claim, please contact Samantha Geerdes at samantha@arvadachamber.org or call (303) 424-0313.

 

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