Gov. Jared Polis’ office announced Tuesday, Jan. 18, that the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will offer KN95 and surgical-grade masks for free at public libraries and other community gathering places that have agreed to be local redistribution points.
Masks will be available later this week and distribution sites are listed at covid19.colorado.gov/freemasks. As of Jan. 18, the list showed only libraries, and none in the Pikes Peak Library District, but the situation is evolving rapidly.
The masks are limited to five per month, per person.
“We are on a mission to help Coloradans keep themselves safe, and free medical grade masks are far more effective in preventing infection than cloth masks,” Polis said.
As of Tuesday, El Paso County has experienced 1,455 deaths since COVID-19 reached the area on March 1, 2022. However, the county’s Public Health Department is warning that data reporting may be delayed during periods of “increased disease activity.”
The 80- to 89-year-old age group continues to lead all deaths, with 397 reported on Jan. 18, even though they comprise just 2.4 percent of the county’s population.
The health department website also reports that the county has experienced 152,427 total cases, although that statistic also may be out of date.
The 20- to 29-year-old age group continues to lead all others in cases with 34,479, even though those people are just 17.6 percent of the county’s population.
The website is reporting 731 positive cases in the 80829 ZIP code. That’s an increase of 60 cases from the number reported Jan. 11.
Information: elpasocountyhealth.org.