Metro Public Health Coalition Thanks Gov. Polis for Acting, Calls for Additional Statewide Requirements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2021

The Metro Denver Partnership for Health (MDPH) thanks Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for the public health order issued on November 14 that will require proof of vaccination at large unseated public indoor events across most counties of the metro area.

MDPH sent a letter to Gov. Jared Polis last week urging him to take statewide action in response to the current COVID-19 surge, which has created unprecedented challenges for Colorado’s hospital system capacity and may require rationing of medical care soon.

“The new requirements announced this weekend are an important step, and we appreciate this initial regional approach, but they are not enough,” said Camille Rodriguez, executive director of Boulder County Public Health. “The current pressure on our hospitals—which is likely to increase as the flu season begins to accelerate—requires stronger statewide leadership and action.”  

MDPH is calling on Gov. Polis to issue a statewide order requiring vaccine passports in high-risk indoor settings not currently covered by the new public health order such as bars, restaurants, gyms, sporting events, and other large group settings.

It is also asking that face coverings be required for all Coloradans ages 2 and older in all other public indoor settings. The request for a statewide mask mandate aligns with a request from the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials and the Colorado Public Health Association that was also sent to the governor last week.

“The current statewide surge is threating the capacity of our health care system, which puts Coloradans with any health emergency at risk and is why local public health agencies are calling for statewide action in the form of a public indoor mask order,” said Cara Bradbury, MPA, executive director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials.

The long-term control of COVID-19 is dependent on vaccination, and MDPH is also seeking additional steps to promote vaccinations, including requirements for key sectors of the workforce not already subject to existing mandates, such as schools, licensed child care settings, congregate living settings, health care providers, and county and municipal employees and contractors.

“Statewide mask mandates coupled with vaccine requirements address the state’s short-term crisis and can help avoid future surges,” said Bill Burman, MD, executive director of the Public Health Institute at Denver Health and former MDPH co-chair. “We need both right now if we are going to get through this pandemic.”

MDPH is led by six public health partners serving the Denver metro area: Boulder County Public Health, Broomfield Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver Department of Public Health & Environment, Jefferson County Public Health, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, and Tri-County Health Department, serving Adams and Arapahoe counties. MDPH’s work impacts nearly 3 million Coloradans — 60% of the state’s population — who live in this region. MDPH is supported and staffed by the Colorado Health Institute (CHI). More information can be found on CHI’s website at https://colo.health/MDPH.

Contact for the Colorado Health Institute

Kristi Arellano, Managing Director of Marketing and Communications | arellanok@coloradohealthinstitute.org | 720.382.7080