Be safe. Stay Strong.
July 16, 2020 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 3
Douglas County commissioners make good on threat to leave Tri-County Health BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
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n July 9, after months of talking about it, Douglas County commissioners made good on their threat to pull out of the Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) with the official statement, “Effective immediately, our Board directed staff to begin the work of creating a separate public health department that will appropriately meet the needs of Douglas County,” said Roger Partridge, County Commissioner and Board Chair.” TCHD is comprised of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in Colorado, Douglas County has experience significantly different case and outcome numbers than have Arapahoe and Adams County. As of July 11, Douglas County has had 1,237 total COVID-19 cases reported, 184 of which required hospitalization, and 52 of which resulted in death. There have been 5,720 reported cases, 1,064 of which required hospitalization, and 351 of which resulted in death in Arapahoe County. Through July 11, Adams County has reported 4,740 cases of COVID-19, 620 hospitalizations, and 157 deaths. Douglas County commissioners have concluded that it does not make sense for them to be subject to the same rules and guidelines as are applied to Adams and Arapahoe Counties because the virus has had a much smaller impact to their community. Compared to Arapahoe County only, Douglas has had 78 percent fewer cases, 83 percent fewer hospitalizations, and 85 percent fewer fatalities. Compared to Adams County, Douglas has had 74 percent fewer cases, 70 percent fewer hospitalizations, and 67 percent fewer fatalities. While they were at it, they officially declined to go along with TCHD’s mandate issued a day earlier to wear masks while in public. Said Commissioner Abe Laydon, “Regarding the mask mandate opt-out, our remarkably favorable public health data, paired with the community’s current 75% mask-wearing voluntary compliance observed by TCHD, and based on Dr. Douglas’ recommendation that a mask mandate was not necessary for Douglas County, led us to this conclusion.” Commissioners did remind Douglas County residents to employ safe practices as recommended by the Cen-
Douglas County Commissioners, from left to right, Roger Partridge, Lora Thomas, and Abe Laydon.
ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to avoid COVID-19 with the statement, “In addition to wearing
a cloth face covering, and staying home when you are sick, the spread of COVID-19 can be reduced through phys-
ical distancing and frequent hand washing. Learn more about protecting yourself and others at https://www.cdc.
gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ prevent-getting-sick/ about-face-coverings.html We asked Douglas County Manager Doug DeBord what the process and the timing of the change might look like. Wendy Manitta Holmes, director of communications and public affairs for Douglas County Government, told The Villager that, “By statute, a one-year written notice of our (Douglas County’s) intent to withdraw (from Tri-County Health Department) is required. By no later than July 11, 2021 Douglas County will have appointed a new Board of Health. That Board will be required to prepare and approve a new public health plan for Douglas County. There are formalities associated with this process. Fmiklin.villager@gmail.com
Back-to-School Telephone Town Hall Thursday, July 16 @ 7 p.m. Officials from Arapahoe County school districts and the Tri-County Health Department will answer questions about the latest plans for the fall term. Visit arapahoegov.com/townhall
OPEN SPACES MASTER PLAN SURVEY:
IMPACT YOUR SPACE
Help us plan for the future of Arapahoe County’s parks, trails and open spaces for the next decade and beyond. Take our online survey in English or Spanish until July 24, 2020. arapahoegov.com/osmasterplan COVID community testing event STRIDE Community Health Center will be providing COVID-19 testing each Wednesday in July at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora. Visit stridechc.org
GET COUNTED! There’s still time to submit your Census survey! Take 10 minutes and make a difference for the next 10 years. arapahoegov.com/census2020
COUNTS U.S. CENSUS 2020
Advance Arapahoe deadline extended Arapahoe CARES is extending the application deadline for its Advance Arapahoe Business Impact Grants to August 1. Businesses in unincorporated parts of the County are being given priority consideration. Visit arapahoegov.com/arapahoecares
arapahoegov.com
