On July 14, Brighton City Council voted 9-0 to opt-out of Tri-County Health Department’s (TCHD) public health order that requires use of face coverings in public places for a 90-day period. This means that the Tri-County Order set to take effect on July 24 will not apply within the Brighton city limits. Face coverings will still be required in all City facilities. City Council still strongly encourages residents to follow its May 5 vote to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible. 

According to the TCHD, its face covering order is based on rising COVID-19 incidence rates in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties and evidence that face coverings help to prevent transmission of the virus. Cities and counties within the TCHD jurisdiction have the choice to opt-out of the order through an email notification to TCHD by July 23.

Due to the evolving nature and changing impact of the pandemic, City Council’s vote also included the request to re-evaluate the face covering provision every two weeks at City Council meetings.