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Preventing the Spread of COVID-19
Guidance for Our Community
Based on real-world evidence, we have learned and are now armed with clear, simple ways to stay safer and prevent COVID-19. Layering these strategies is the best way to get the most protection for yourself, your loved ones and your community.
Get vaccinated.
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and vaccination is the best way to prevent COVID-19. Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
- There are many ways to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccines are widely available at many locations and times across the county. COVID-19 vaccines are free, and no insurance is required. No ID is necessary.
- Visit a JCPH COVID-19 vaccination clinic near you. Walk-ups are welcome. Find a location near you.
- Find more information about additional doses or boosters.
- Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months -17 years.
Mask up.
- Masks work to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. The CDC, along with JCPH, recommends masking in indoor public settings in areas where CDC COVID-19 Community Levels are Medium or High [external link].
- Currently, all Coloradans age 6 months and older have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, but please remember masks are required in certain places:
- Nursing homes, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities and group homes must continue to follow the requirements of PHO 20-20 [external link], which has not been amended and still requires face coverings.
- Find more general information about masks.
Get tested.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested as soon as possible, even if you are vaccinated. If you are exposed to a COVID-19 case, get tested 3-5 days after the exposure if you are unvaccinated, and 5-7 days after the exposure if you are vaccinated. Find a free COVID-19 testing site near you (external link).
- Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, and testing is the most accurate when symptoms are present. Symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Keep your distance.
- Maintain at least 6-ft. distancing from those not in your household, especially if you aren’t sure about their vaccination status or if you yourself are unvaccinated.
- Keeping your distance can help keep you — and others — safe.
Take everyday prevention steps.
- The things you do every day — like regular handwashing, keeping high-touch surfaces clean and disinfected, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when you’re sick — will help stop the spread of germs and keep you and your loved ones healthy.
Guidance for Businesses
Businesses can still require COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as continued mask wearing and social distancing, even if they are not required by the county or state. JCPH supports the rights of all businesses to determine how best to protect their customers and employees given their specific business environment and requests that residents respectfully comply when visiting any business. For more information, view "Best Practices for Preventing COVID-19 [PDF]."