A Colorado county is trying to hire several “COVID-19 ambassadors” to conduct business checks and monitor compliance with public health orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“That is the idea, that we get some more people out in the community and try to increase our oversight presence, try to make sure everybody understands what the public health orders are,” said Routt County Environmental Health Director Scott Cowman. “It is really a continuation and ramping up of that effort that was already ongoing.”
Some Routt County officials have already been doing business checks throughout the summer, using staff who were furloughed due to the coronavirus restrictions. As those employees return to their normal jobs, the county will attempt to replace them with the new ambassadors.
“We have been doing this over the summer, but what we are trying to do is increase those efforts and get out and see more businesses,” Cowman said.
The county is looking to hire four people, who will work with two other county employees who have already been making calls to businesses.
The job posting says the position includes an irregular schedule of 10 to 20 hours per week, and ambassadors will be paid $23.50 per hour.
“We want qualified people, and it takes some people skills to be able to go out and approach businesses, so we are looking for the right type of person to be able to do that,” Cowman said.
While Cowman said the ambassadors will mostly work to educate businesses on understanding public health orders, they will also be checking whether businesses are complying with local restrictions.
The new ambassadors will be given a checklist to ensure businesses are following COVID-19 mitigation plans.
“Mostly, it is just an education and outreach effort, making sure they [businesses] have the information they need. Making sure they are complying with public health orders,” Cowman said.
County officials first discussed the need for more help in ensuring compliance at Routt County Board of Health meetings in recent weeks, hoping that increased communication with businesses could help mitigate the spread of the virus.
The county has recently put more restrictions in place amid a nationwide spike in COVID-19 cases, including proper social distancing measures, mask mandates, and limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people from two separate households.
