As of Tuesday, Jan. 25, the state has delivered more than 1.7 million free KN95 and surgical-grade masks to 386 distribution points across Colorado. The Pikes Peak Library District announced that it will have masks beginning Friday, Jan. 28.
Masks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at all open library locations, including mobile library services, in El Paso County. The limit is five masks per person while supplies last. Information: covid19.colorado.gov/freemasks.
This is part of the state’s ongoing effort to provide high-quality personal protective equipment to high-risk Coloradans. With the ongoing surge of the COVID-19 omicron variant, the state recommends people upgrade from cloth masks to medical-grade masks like KN95 or surgical masks.
Now that all Coloradans age 5 and older have access to COVID-19 vaccines, masks are required only in certain places for people who are not up to date on their vaccines.
Manitou Springs continues to require masking inside public buildings. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment encourages everyone to keep masks with them in public and wear them if asked.
People age 2 and older must still wear masks on public transportation and in hubs such as airports and train stations. Federal law requires that for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Information: covid19.colorado.gov.
The El Paso County Public Health Department reports that 1,489 people (up from 1,455 on Jan. 18) have died of the virus as of Jan. 25, 2022. However, the website cautions that data reporting may be delayed during increased disease activity.
People in the 80829 ZIP code have experienced 771 positive cases, an increase of 40 since Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Information: www.elpasocounty health.org.
