The normally highly collaborative Chaffee County COVID-19 Roundtable of the county and municipal leaders has been meeting nearly daily for the past seven weeks. That spirit of collaboration was strained on Wednesday, as law enforcement questioned enforcing the social distancing and mask requirements contained in both the Colorado state and Chaffee County public health orders.
With tourists already streaming into the county, (although it isn’t yet officially open) the situation is urgent to clarify where this county stands on social distancing and masks.
His and hers masks. Photo by Katie Terry
“We have to plant the right expectation for them to come here,” said the Chair of the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners Greg Felt, who went on to point out that turning mask-wearing into a social norm might gain broader acceptance. Only last week Felt wrote a Guest Opinion in which he laid out the county’s four-part reopening requirements.
“If we don’t have a strong requirement, then what other weapons do we have? This is a county-wide issue,” said Chaffee Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Wendell Pryor.
The normally cheerful and resourceful Chaffee County Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom, who last Friday filed a variance request with the state to speed up the opening within the county of restaurants, campgrounds, and RV parks, (hotels, motels, were considered critical businesses during the state stay at home order, so never fully shut down) was clear. Not only is the variance request based on our record of successfully handling incidents of the coronavirus known as COVID-19, but it is also predicated upon the county continuing to reinforce social distancing and masks.
“With ‘Stay-at-Home’, we were able to stabilize our virus environment in the county … masks are required in our public health order… law enforcement said they don’t have the capacity — or will – to enforce this,” said Carlstrom. “But social distancing and mask-wearing are what we’ve got right now. That’s it until we’ve got a vaccine. We are a county that prioritizes health and wellness and we take great pride in all the outdoor and healthy lifestyle here – if we can’t support requiring masks in public, then we have fallen short on protecting our community.”
The group’s opinions ranged across a spectrum of concern; from making masks “our social norm”, to enforcing it with a strongly educational messaging about the importance of masks, including outright enforcement. The leaders’ noticeable squeamishness on the topic may be due to the fact that the wearing of masks has been politicized, from the national level. (Where the president and vice president have announced they won’t wear them, nor has the White House until two staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Now staff in the West Wing are wearing masks), all the way down to the local level. Some right-wing militia groups appear to have made masks a symbol fo their resistance to government authority.
But the virus doesn’t have a political component, nor does it discriminate in who it infects. While the official order and the county commissioners have supported both social distancing and masks as our only weapons against a proven deadly virus for which there is no vaccine, law enforcement in the county has pushed back.
Courtesy photo; Keith Baker in his mask.
“Last week we had this discussion on the masks and went on for 30-40 minutes,” said Salida Police Chief Russ Johnson. “The order states they are required. Sheriff Spezze and I are on the same page, nor do we have the time to enforce the masks … our order says one thing, and in reality, this isn’t practical.”
Carlstrom responded saying, “I do appreciate this different perspective. But to get through this we all need to be on the same team … if that’s what you think, then I need that language on why your believe we would now be backing away [from that order]? Public health guidelines are clear; masks are one of the few weapons we have right now. Give me the language … why would we not require masks?”
“We have to model the behavior we require,” said Commissioner Keith Baker. “It’s — this is Chaffee County, where we wear a mask. We don’t have to be coercive … this is a social expectation that here in Chaffee County we care about each other and you, and wearing a mask is a small price to pay. Over time people will become accustomed to it.”
While there was pushback from law enforcement agencies, it was clear that the Chaffee Economic Development Corp understood the risk if enforcement were to fade.
“We need to get serious about enforcing [wearing] masks and how we’re going to do it,” said Carlin Walsh, CEO of Elevation Brewing and EDC board member. “If we are opening [lodging] at 25 percent on Monday – we will have a lot of folks [showing up] not wearing masks – we need some direction on how to manage this.”
Having waited for a couple of weeks while the group has done what can only be described as “tiptoeing” around the issue, the City of Salida gave up waiting on united county messaging. Together with the Salida Chamber it plans to roll out its own mask messaging campaign in the next few days.
Salida Mayor P.T. Wood sports his mask outside his distillery on First St. in Salida.
“I’ve been saying this for a week and it’s been ignored,” said Salida Mayor P.T. Wood. “The city and the chamber have gone out and done our own thing. We’re happy to share that with everybody…but we’re ahead on this and our messaging is already out there and should be at the forefront. Our message is ‘Hey we’re wearing a mask – this is why’.”
Talking with Wood on Thursday morning about the apparent refusal of the Salida Police Department to approach mask enforcement, Wood told Ark Valley Voice that the city would probably be looking at a strong educational component. “The real question is what does enforcement look like here? What will we do? We’re meeting shortly and we’ll look at coming up with some clear methodology. We’ve been waiting for it from the county, and with the absence of that we’re just going to go and figure this out ourselves.”
Carlstrom alerted the round table to the plight of Colorado Public Health agencies.
“While Chaffee Public Health has appreciated the support we have had here, during our [Colorado] Public Health call today, there were some significant concerns voiced by public health officials. It’s clear the same sentiments are not being felt by our fellow health departments,” said Carlstrom. “They are receiving death threats, their offices are being vandalized, their cars are being broken into … this is a very unsafe place for public health officials right now. Our departments have been working 24/7. There is depression, exhaustion, anxiety – just so you all know, this is the landscape we are working in.”
Felt responded, saying that any threats to the county’s public health officials will be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly.
“I respect everyone’s perspective on the round table,” said Carltrom. “We’re all looking at this from own own angle, but my job is to prioritize public health – we have so few strategies to fight this virus.”
Dr. Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention original position was that wearing a mask was unnecessary for healthy individuals however the news continued to show medical workers in the hospital wearing masks so to prevent more runs on n95 and surgical masks the CDC changed their recommendation to wearing some type of face covering, the science did not change this was a way to placate the population it is similar to telling and expectant father during an emergency birth to go and boil water it keeps him busy and less panicky n95 masks are manufactured to a standard and can be researched and tested to see how they will perform in different situations, homemade masks very and cannot be tested and so there is no way to know how they perform. if people feel comfortable wearing a mask they should be allowed to wear them but the government shoud not mandate dress codes. the homemade mask gives people a feeling of control but unfortunately is really not much more than a superstition.
I do not consider that those of us who chose to wear a facemask to be safe and keep others safe from this virus to be “placated”. What the experts now know about the science of this is evolving because we have learned more about this highly-infectious virus. The initial extreme shortage of N-95 masks did prompt experts to try to reserve them for our front line workers, whos constant contact with infected patients continues to put them at high risk. What the science shows is that facial coverings can — and do- — stop droplets from coughs and sneezes that can travel a distance of 12 to 14 ft. over the course of less than a minute. You do not source your comment: “homemade mask gives people a feeling of control but unfortunately is really not much more than a superstition.” In fact, COVID-19 droplets from reaching others is public health protection — we wear facemasks to protect others — which is where the word “public” in public health comes in.
It seems simple to me, that stores, shops businesses, should have a posted sign at the door. Don’t enter without a mask on!
No mask no service. If people can’t make the right choices maybe the business owners need to step up to the plate and make the decision for their potential customer. I wear a mask, if I walk into someplace and there is someone in there without a mask, I walk right back out. I for one think the police and the sheriffs should not be enforcing mask wearing, businesses should. I was shocked that the city now allows drinking in the parks. Come again…. wasn’t that dis allowed to protect our under age people? To benefit the alcohol producing businesses, now it’s allowed. Salida police now have to step up policing the parks for under age drinking. Adults know what they should be doing, we should at least try and set an example for our kids. I don’t want to be nannied to death by the city or county. I like my freedom, if wearing a mask is going to give me my freedom, well, I’m gonna wear a mask. It really is a small price to pay, better then getting sick or …..
Don’t look at this like government telling you what to do. Look at it like freedom to move about safer!!
God is Greater than all of this.
I agree He is, but he could probably use a little help from all of us.
As a second home owner that is finally able to come check on my home and return to my happy place, I’m very concerned about the lack of mask wearing in Salida. I followed the health order and quarantined at home so that I could return. While biking on Saturday I noticed how many were not wearing masks nor social distancing. I was very concerned when I biked past the county offices parking lot on 3rd and saw 6 employees either leaving the building or entering cars, all in groups of 2, and none wearing masks or distancing. My husband had to go to Ace to get some sprinkler parts and immediately left as no employees were masked.
On a personal note, I’m also saddened by this as a group I’m involved with in Colorado Springs and Canon City sewed and donated over 1400 masks to Chaffee County health, with many of those specified for the Sheriffs office, police department, etc and made specifically for them with dark fronts, filtration material and nose wires. These same masks are being worn by CSPD, El Paso and Fremont county Sheriffs. If those masks aren’t being used, please give them back and they’ll be donated to folks that care about theirs and others health and will wear them.
If Chaffee County Public Health employees are attacked or their cars vandalized, would “law enforcement” even respind?
Thought we were only required to wear a mask if we were closer than 6ft of each other. No need to wear your mask if your walking and no one else is around you, or riding your bike
The mask rule applies when out in public places, while the social distancing rule directs us to stay six ft. apart to avoid passing on the virus. The rules make exceptions on the mask if you’re out exercising alone; say taking a walk on a path with few people. But should you meet someone, they require putting the mask in place if instead of passing, stop to talk, for lnger than a minute.
Commenter Brittany fails to understand that the oath local law enforcement took to “Serve and Protect” does not end with the lives of our county officials and public servants.
Thank you for changing that. I don’t see how to delete my comment but you certainly can now.
These officers all took a pledge to uphold the constitution; and enforcing said campaign would be in direct opposition of our rights. Enforcing something like this could result in officers losing their post certifications and livelihood. So are you asking the Officers in this town to put aside their livelihoods so that the small business owners of this county may have theirs?!? No wonder they are disinterested in enforcing such measures….
Brittany, first, we don’t make the news, we report the news. This piece was not an opinion piece; it is what happened in the meeting. We aren’t asking anyone, let alone law enforcement to do anything. Our role is to ensure the transparency of the government at all levels. Law enforcement is supposed to carry out laws and public health orders, not pick willy-nilly what they chose to enforce. The town of Salida has decided to allow alcohol in parks, and the Salida Police Dept. has said they will put an attendant at the park to enforce no underage drinking. But then they choose to ignore this scientifically-based order that could actually prevent death?
But since you’ve apparently decided this is about opinion, here is mine: your claim is not accurate. The Constitution of the United States talks about “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Your liberty does not “trump” my right to live or anyone else’s right to live. We are dealing with a public health emergency for a deadly virus, with no vaccine and this is NOT under control.
Second, the Constitution of the State of Colorado clearly outlines the governor’s responsibility to ensure our safety and he is constitutionally mandated to make executive orders and instruct the Colorado Dept. of Health and Environment to institute public safety orders to protect us.
We point out that in the case of the local public health emergency, the Director of Public Health IS the Incident Commander, and as such public health orders are to be obeyed. The mask requirement is in both the state and the local order.
The leader of this country has pushed away any responsibility for handling this public health emergency onto the states, and at the same time, is cheerleading reopening. So if the responsibility for our safety is at the state and local level, then I, for one want social distancing and mask orders enforced. IF this is the war that the presidnet has called it, then NOt to do so is like sending a soldier to battel without boots and a gun.
It is difficult for a nation of 320+million to be responsive to a pandemic,although our “enemy” China with well over a billion people appears to be doing better.Who is in charge in the County?If there is a risk to the citizens health does law enforcement decide what they will or will not enforce?The County Health officials,and medical experts at the County and State level have put out an order to protect our health.What does law enforcement need to enforce the order?Manpower,logistics,equipment,tests? Give law enforcement whatever they need to be safe to do their jobs,and if they will not enforce, find those who will.We are unable to have a unified front at the County level,no wonder the death toll is approaching 100,000 at the national level
Well said, and needed to be said in this instance…
“Law enforcement is supposed to carry out laws and public health orders, not pick willy-nilly what they chose to enforce.” Not necessarily true. The oath that they take places protection of the Constitution ahead of everything else. Rather than being a “willy-nilly” issue, this is quite literally a Constitutional issue and bears discussion. I understand the need to wear masks, and I understand the need to protect our rights. But treating people like children that can’t use their own sense is not the answer. Are there “children” out there that refuse to use sense to make a statement? You bet. But they would do that regardless of any law that’s in place.
Funny thing; people used to say the same thing about wearing motorcycle helmets. But if you chose not to wear one, the one you could kill is yourself. To what constitutional protection do you refer? In this case, in this pandemic, the people you could kill aren’t you — but your friends, your neighbors, and those you meet on the street — including me. I believe my right to live trumps your right to the liberty of which you speak. It is this public threat that scientists warn us is different here; the state through statute and per the president has the responsibility to mitigate the pandemic threat. The state has established local public health depts. are officially incident commanders of public health crises.
I’ve spoken about this recently and will say so again. If you’ve read anything of the clinical details of what it means to be on a ventilator, you would never even consider going out without a mask. Your major organs are in total system failure, you’re in a comatose state, totally dependent on many specialists, risking THEIR lives to MAYBE bring you back from the edge of death.
Here’s an analogy: consider that not wearing a mask and spreading the coronavirus (even unintentionally) is like having people driving on the sidewalk at high speed while intoxicated and totally out of control. Recall the graphic images of such carnage done to innocent people and children in Europe and America? This is more subtle, but equally deadly. At the moment, we have very little chance of prevention. This is like a computer failure – it’s not IF folks, it’s WHEN. Without a change of heart from local law enforcement, I predict we’ll see a surge in less than a month. There’s nothing more important today than for law enforcement to join the team, do what they are sworn to do and protect the community they serve.
All I’m asking for is some attempt at “community policing” – visible presence on the street, on foot and on bikes while wearing masks. Our sworn law officers can do their job, educate people and make it clear Chaffee is a County that CARES. We are not Castle Rock and DO value our people, regardless of their political persuasion. It’s that simple.
Well said, Merrell.