San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is pleased to announce that free KN95 and surgical masks are available at SJBPH offices in Pagosa Springs and Durango.
SJBPH received a new shipment of KN95 and surgical masks last week from the State of Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. Since receiving its initial shipment, SJBPH has distributed more than 25,000 masks to community members and local organizations across Archuleta and La Plata counties.
Masks are currently available at SJBPH front desks on a first come, first served basis until they run out. Five masks will be provided per person. Masks of high quality and fit are essential for reducing transmission of COVID-19. Face coverings continue to be strongly recommended for all individuals ages two and up in public indoor settings, businesses, and workplaces.
SJBPH’s Pagosa Springs office is located at 502 S. 8th Street in Pagosa Springs and is open Monday through Thursday 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The SJBPH Durango office is located at 281 Sawyer Drive Suite 300 in Durango and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. The public is required to wear a mask to enter SJBPH offices and lobbies at this time.
COVID-19 spreads when an infected person exhales virus-containing droplets and small particles. Other people can breathe in these droplets and particles. It’s critical to have a well-fitting mask to protect yourself and others. A mask should fit firmly over the nose, mouth, and chin without gaps to be most effective. It should fit in a way that restricts airflow around the mask (e.g., under the eyes or along the side of the mask) while still allowing you to breathe easily through the mask.
Guidelines on how to correctly wear and care for your mask is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wash reusable cloth masks as soon as they get dirty, or at least once a day. After handling or touching a used mask, always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer. You should throw away and replace your mask if it gets dirty, wet, or damaged, if it becomes hard to breathe through the mask, or if it no longer forms a tight seal against your face. If masks are clean, they can be stored for reuse later in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean between uses.
“We are proud to have distributed more than 25,000 high quality masks to community members over the past two weeks. We’re grateful for everyone who has stopped by our front desks and continue to mask in public indoor spaces. While our case rates are significantly decreasing, we continue to have high transmission and hospitalization rates in our region fueled by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. We hope you will stop by for masks for yourself or friends and family to wear in high-risk settings,” said Liane Jollon, Executive Director, SJBPH.
Both La Plata and Archuleta counties continue to report high levels of COVID-19 transmission that are impacting the operation of businesses, schools, and health care in the region. Yesterday, the seven-day case incidence rate in La Plata County was reported at 437 cases per 100,000 residents, and in Archuleta County the rate was 165 cases per 100,000 residents.
Of the molecular tests collected and reported to SJBPH last week, 12% came back positive for COVID-19 in La Plata County and 10% were reported as positive in Archuleta County.
Chandler Griffin is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health District. SJBPH is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties.