Douglas County commissioners make good on threat to leave Tri-County Health

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On 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 experienced significantly different cases 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 Centers 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 physical 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