Polis modifies, extends mask order
Gov. Jared Polis has extended the statewide mask order with modifications that account for where Colorado is in the pandemic.
In counties with one-week disease incidence rates of 35 or fewer per 100,000 (Level Green under Public Health Order 20-36), counties may lift or modify face covering requirements to the extent permitted under the executive order.
Phillips County is in Level Green, the least restrictive level on the dial, and has been since Dial 3.0 went into effect March 24.
The updated executive order will continue to require mask wearing in all counties in schools (including extracurricular activities), child care centers, indoor children’s camps, public-facing state government facilities, congregate care facilities, prisons, jails, emergency medical and other health care settings, and personal services and limited health care settings as defined by PHO 20-36.
“We fought hard to get Colorado kids back in school successfully, and we’re not going to jeopardize Colorado’s return of in-person learning by changing the mask policy this school year,” Polis said.
“Here in Colorado we are making incredible progress with getting vaccines into arms and protecting our most vulnerable, but until everyone can get the vaccine and our COVID cases are reduced, taking precautions to prevent a surge in cases and further spread of the disease is the smart thing to do and the right thing to do and helps keep everything open,” said Polis.
He continued, “By continuing to wear our masks in public indoor settings around others, we can safely enjoy the activities we love and keep our economy open. Every community has been impacted differently by this pandemic, and we want to ensure this order is reflective of that. We’re almost there, Colorado, but we need to keep this up just a little bit longer.”
Polis went on, “I look forward to the day when immunity reaches a level that we no longer have to wear masks. Right now across our state, one in 207 people are currently contagious with COVID-19, and only an estimated 27% of Coloradans are already immune through either vaccination or prior infection.”
“In the meantime, we must continue practicing vigilance by wearing masks, especially if you aren’t yet fully vaccinated, practicing social distancing when in public and in the company of people with unknown vaccine status. This modified mask order is a step towards the light at the end of the tunnel, and it acknowledges a transition away from most requirements for those counties in Level Green with very low transmission, 35 cases or less out of every 100,000, and the great achievement they have made towards ending the pandemic.”
In counties with one-week disease incidence rates in excess of 35 per 100,000, which are known in Dial 3.0 as blue, yellow, orange, red and purple counties, masks must also be worn in all public indoor settings when 10 or more unvaccinated individuals or individuals of unknown vaccination status are present.
The number of counties that are in Level Green is 31, as of April 2, representing a population of 238,286 Coloradans. The number of counties in Levels Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red or Purple is 33, representing a population of 5,525,690.
The executive order keeps exemptions that were in the prior executive orders.