This article by reporter Faith Miller first appeared on the Colorado Newsliner website on August 14, 2020.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis extended a statewide mask order, which applies to most Coloradans in indoor spaces, for an additional 30 days.
The original order from July 16 was set to expire August 15. An executive order issued August 14, which includes an additional exemption for “life rites,” will expire September 13 unless the governor extends or amends it.
Everyone over 10 years old must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth while inside public indoor spaces, including businesses, and while waiting for public transportation. The new order adds an exemption for individuals officiating life rites, which according to the state’s safer-at-home guidance include “wedding ceremonies, graduations, funeral services, baptisms, bris ceremonies, and other religious ceremonies.”
As with the original order, the following people are still exempt from the mask requirement:
- deaf people and people with other disabilities, or people who are communicating with someone with disabilities “where the ability to see the mouth is essential to communication”;
- people seated at restaurants;
- people exercising alone or with others from their household, where “a face covering would interfere with the activity”;
- people receiving a personal service (like a facial or beard trim), where the face covering must be removed temporarily;
- people asked to temporarily remove a face covering for identification purposes;
- law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel;
- people leading a religious service; or
- people giving a speech for broadcast or an audience.
Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows 170 people hospitalized Aug. 14 with confirmed COVID-19, a decrease from 260 people on July 16, when the governor first issued a mask order.
New cases also appear to be declining: An average of 313 cases were reported each day from August 12 to August 14, down from a daily average of 527 new cases reported for the three-day period ending July 16.
Faith Miller covers the Colorado Legislature, immigration and other stories for Colorado Newsline.