DENVER – Governor Jared Polis on Friday extended the statewide mask requirement for another 30 days, but the latest iteration allows counties on the Green Level – usually the least populous counties in the state – to eliminate requirements in many public places .
The executive order will still require that all counties, regardless of their level on the state’s COVID response dial, have mask requirements in place at schools, day care centers, closed children’s camps, state government facilities, personal service locations such as hairdressers and manicurists and tattoo parlors, certain health facilities, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, bring together care facilities, prisons and jails.
The mask requirement will still be in place for schools because children under the age of 16 have not yet been approved to receive the vaccine, and Colorado wants to keep the largest number of students learning in person for the rest of the school year.
In addition, masks will be required in public indoor environments where 10 or more unvaccinated persons or persons with unknown vaccination status are present in Blue to Purple level counties on the state display.
As of Friday afternoon, 31 counties were on the Green Level. People in these counties will be able to remove their masks outside the mentioned settings, in which they will still need to be used.
The state said that there are about 238,000 people living in these 31 counties currently at the Green Level. There are about 5.5 million people living in counties at Blue to Purple levels, which means that the vast majority of the state’s population will have to continue using facial coverings for now.
The mask requirements do not apply to children 10 years and under. Local municipalities may also implement stricter mask requirements, according to the executive order.
Governor Polis had said at his previous press conference on Monday that he was considering extending the mask’s mandate, which was due to expire on Saturday, for two weeks before handing over control to local governments, but the Department of Public Health and Environment from Colorado hinted Thursday that Friday’s 30-day extension would be soon.
The state says changes to the mandate are being made because more coloradans continue to receive vaccine doses. As of Thursday, more than 1 million people of color were fully vaccinated and the state opened eligibility for the vaccine to everyone over 16 as of Friday.
“Here in Colorado, we are making incredible progress in putting vaccines in arms and protecting our most vulnerable, but until everyone can get the vaccine and our COVID cases are reduced, take precautions to prevent an increase in cases and further spread of the disease. it’s the smart thing to do and the right thing to do and it helps keep everything open, ”said Polis in a statement.
President Joe Biden and CDC officials have criticized states that have completely withdrawn their mask requirements.
Colorado case and hospital counts have also reached a plateau in recent weeks, causing some concern among public health officials about loosening restrictions very quickly as the number of cases increases dramatically in some other states and as the virus turns into more infectious variants.
And even in small counties, such as Custer County, which has lifted its restrictions, but has since seen an increase in COVID cases, even between the health council and county commissioners, officials said people should not lower the burden. guard against the virus.
The state still pressures people to wear masks indoors and around others, and companies will be able to make their own rules when it comes to masks, along with local municipalities.
“By continuing to use our masks in public indoor environments close to other people, we can safely enjoy the activities we love and keep our economy open. Each community has suffered a different impact from this pandemic, and we want to ensure that this order reflects that, ”said Polis on Friday.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said on Thursday that the city would require masks at least until early May, and probably for longer. The Executive Director of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Bob McDonald, said the city is likely to maintain internal capacity limits to some extent in the near future as well.
Making the leap from current Yellow Level restrictions to no restrictions and no masks “would be a mistake,” said McDonald.
Colorado says 1 in 207 people are still contagious with COVID-19 in the state and said mask use and social detachment should continue, especially for people who have not yet been vaccinated. Three hundred and eighty-two confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients were hospitalized on Thursday.
“This modified mask order is a step towards light at the end of the tunnel and recognizes a transition from most requirements to counties at the green level with very low transmission, 35 boxes or less per 100,000, and the great achievements they have made to end the pandemic, ”said Polis.