Colorado to give out free KN95 masks at libraries, but program’s rollout leads to confusion

Colorado plans to distribute free KN95 and surgical-grade masks through public libraries, fire stations and other community locations beginning this week, but the program’s rollout led to confusion Wednesday as some agencies — including the Denver Public Library — warned the public they had no masks to offer.

Gov. Jared Polis’s office announced Tuesday afternoon the high-grade masks would be handed out at locations that also include recreation centers, VFWs, YMCAs and “high-traffic community centers” as part of the state’s ongoing effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Mask distribution sites are listed at covid19.colorado.gov/freemasks.

“We are on a mission to help Coloradans keep themselves safe, and free medical grade masks are far more effective in preventing infection than cloth masks,” Polis said in a news release. “By making free medical grade masks available at libraries across our state and soon for home delivery, we are giving Coloradans a powerful tool to avoid infection.”

But the public announcement of the program by the governor’s office appeared to catch some off guard.

Several Front Range public library systems — including Denver, Jefferson County and Pueblo — took to social media Tuesday evening to tell their patrons that, despite appearing on the state’s list of providers, they did not have KN95 masks to give out. The Denver Public Library later deleted its social media posts on the subject.

Fire agencies — including the Greeley Fire Department, Adams County Fire and the Pueblo Fire Department — also posted on social media that, despite the governor’s announcement that fire stations would be among the sites participating, they were not distributing the KN95 masks.

By late morning Wednesday, the state website’s page on the free mask program was edited to remove the reference to the face coverings being available at fire stations, recreation centers, VFWs and YMCAs. “At this time, only the following libraries are offering masks,” the page now says. “More locations to follow.”

Erika Martinez, communications director for the Denver Public Library, said the facility deleted its social media posts to avoid adding “any additional confusion to our community.” She encouraged people to seek out other locations that are scheduled to distribute the masks. In Denver, the KN95s will be available at the Colorado State Services Building, 1525 Sherman St., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Thursday.

“We don’t believe it’s in the best interest of our community to discuss the behind-the-scenes activities of the rollout,” Martinez wrote in an email Wednesday morning.

The Denver library did order KN95 masks from the state for staff use, she said, but it does not have any for public distribution. “We are working with the state and our team to iron out the operational needs and what it would take for our organization to distribute,” she said.

Later Wednesday, the state removed the Denver Public Library from its list of mask pick-up locations, adding a note that said, “Denver Public Libraries are unable to distribute masks to the public at this time. The City and County of Denver is working to identify recreation centers that will have masks for public distribution.”

Nick Potter, director of community relations for the Pueblo Library District, said the announcement wasn’t a surprise, but, rather, “a matter of folks seeing the headline and skipping the details.” He said the Pueblo Library received 8,000 masks around 7 a.m. Wednesday. Distribution is scheduled to begin Friday.

The Jeffco library system received 2,500 KN95 masks to be distributed through its 10 branch locations, Kim McGrigg, the library’s communications director, said. “We anticipate that they will be distributed very quickly and are in the process of ordering more.”

In Boulder County, libraries in Louisville and Lyons confirmed they’d received masks from the state and were prepared to begin distributing them.

“Given Boulder County’s long-running mask mandate we’ve provided disposable surgical masks at our entrance for a long time, but we’re thankful for an opportunity to provide the additional protection of a KN95 to our visitors,” Lyons Community Library director Kara Bauman said.

The Colorado State Joint Information Center reported 82,500 KN95 masks and 226,000 surgical masks were delivered to distribution points Tuesday, and the governor’s office said “hundreds of thousands more” were being shipped Wednesday.

Officials did not respond when asked about how much the masks cost, and how many the state ultimately intends to buy. They did say, however, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the costs of the masks themselves, though the state is paying for transportation and shipping.

By Wednesday evening, officials said every location on Colorado’s distribution list had received masks, and that the state had received requests from 63 more locations — 57 libraries and six fire departments — to participate in the wake of Tuesday’s announcement. Those locations will be added to the list once they receive their masks.