Based on recovering hospital capacity, significantly downward trending transmission rates, and high vaccination rates, Broomfield’s current face mask requirements will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 3 across the city and county.
Based on recovering hospital capacity, significantly downward trending transmission rates, and high vaccination rates, Broomfield’s current face mask requirements will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 3 across the city and county.
Thank you Broomfielders for continuing to step up by:
- Staying up-to-date on vaccinations,
- Wearing surgical-grade KN95 masks when inside public spaces,
- Following current isolation and quarantine protocols
“COVID-19 will continue to be with us for the foreseeable future. While the risk will remain, we have the tools to limit its impact. Now, more than ever, it’s important for residents, businesses, schools, and child care centers to take the lead in implementing and following public health recommendations to move us collectively into a new phase of this pandemic as ‘living with the virus’,” said Jason Vahling, Broomfield Public Health Director.
Broomfield remains committed to using data to drive decisions and will continue to diligently monitor transmission and vaccination rates, hospital capacity, and emerging variants while being prepared to act swiftly as the situation evolves.
More information
Recent modeling suggests we’ve reached the peak of the omicron surge and it is likely that infections and hospitalizations will continue to decline in the weeks ahead. While the use of facemasks in crowded indoor settings, including schools, has been an important mitigation measure over the past 23 months, it is reasonable to end the mandates now for several reasons:
- Case trends following the widespread omicron surge are now dramatically declining, even more rapidly than expected. The decline has been almost linear thus far (similar to that seen in UK, NY, NJ), and our projections are that rates are estimated to reach 500 cases/100,000 by 2/4. If declines continue, Broomfield will reach the CDC definition of “high” transmission (<100) by 2/13 and “moderate” transmission (<50) by 2/14. Case rates have been declining similarly among all age groups.
- As of 1/31, 75.2% of Broomfield’s total population has completed their primary vaccine series. Of those eligible, 58.9% are considered up-to-date (i.e. boosted). Broomfield continues to lead the state in vaccination rates. According to data published by CDPHE, individuals who are up-to-date are 5.5 times less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than those vaccinated without a booster and 24 times less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated. Similar to hospitalizations, the likelihood of death due to COVID-19 is also greatly reduced by being up-to-date (i.e. boosted). For individuals who are up-to-date, they are 8.6 times less likely to die from COVID-19 than those vaccinated without a booster and 64 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated.
- In addition to vaccine-related immunity, the unprecedented numbers of recent cases has substantially enhanced population immunity.
- The most recent modeling report from the Colorado School of Public Health estimates that 42% of all Coloradoans have been infected with omicron and that approximately 80% of residents have omicron-specific immunity due to either infection or vaccination. While infection from natural immunity may not last as long as that from vaccines, it will likely last at least 3 months, providing a bridge to the warmer months of the year when COVID transmission is less of a risk.
- Over recent weeks, hospital ICU capacity has been consistently improving and hospitalizations are at their lowest rate since November; we expect hospitalizations to continue to trend downward with further reduction in cases.
- Additionally, testing is widely available and KN95 masks are free for all Colorado residents.
Please find more detailed data, vaccination opportunities, and more information at Broomfield.org/COVID.