“It’s really easy: wear a mask,” Governor Jared Polis told his audience at a press conference yesterday afternoon, Thursday, July 16.
The audience would be, the people of Colorado… and our summer visitors from out-of-state.
Here is a one-minute video, excerpted from the one-hour-long press conference:
“The bottom line is that, like all Coloradans, I want to be able to be able to enjoy life, and go to a restaurant and get a haircut and keep our businesses open and protect our economy and protect lives. And the data increasingly shows that one of the powerful tools that we, as a state, have done well on — but can do better on — is wearing masks.
“And that’s why, today, I’m signing an executive order that effective at midnight tonight that requires every Coloradan age 10 and up wear a mask or face covering…”
You can read the full order here.
The order applies only to ‘indoor spaces’, which includes “using or waiting to use any form of public transportation, a taxi service, car service, or ride-sharing service.” Businesses are required to post signage mandating mask-wearing, and must refuse entry or service to people not wearing masks.
People who have medical issues or disabilities that preclude them from wearing masks are exempt from the mandate, which is expected to last for 30 days.
“You just have to know, you should wear a mask when you’re in public. You’re going into a store; you’re going to the office; you’re going to a place where others congregate — you need to wear a mask. It’s practical — obviously, where you can’t wear a mask, you’re not going to wear a mask, and nobody would ask you to. But anywhere, where you’re with others, public, congregation, you need to do it.
“It’s super important. Look, we have a choice in Colorado. Either more mask wearing and more attention to social distancing, or more damage to our economy and loss of life.”
Governor Polis made the announcement alongside State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican who had advocated that the Tri-County Health Department issue a mask order last week.
The Governor and Dr. Herlihy referenced a “significant uptick over the last few days.” The uptick in COVID-19 cases has not yet put a strain on the healthcare system, but whether such a strain will become apparent in the coming weeks as a result of the increase remains to be seen. In the past, there has typically been a time lag between new cases and rising hospitalization rates.
Here is one of the charts shared in the PowerPoint presentation showing about 2,700 new cases during the week of July 5, compared to 3,600 during the previous peak, the week of April 19.
The data shared at the press conference showed the greatest increases among people 20-39 years of age, with a similar but lesser increase among those aged 40-64. No noticeable uptick was evident among those 65 and older.
“The best way to support Colorado workers and businesses right now is to wear a mask. I’ve said this from the beginning, and it’s still true today: together, we will get through this.”
Individuals performing the following activities are exempt from the requirements of the Executive Order while the activity is being performed:
- Individuals who are hearing impaired or otherwise disabled or who are communicating with someone who is hearing impaired or otherwise disabled and where the ability to see the mouth is essential to communication;
- Individuals who are seated at a food service establishment;
- Individuals who are exercising alone or with others from the individual’s household and a face covering would interfere with the activity;
- Individuals who are receiving a personal service where the temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;
- Individuals who enter a business or receive services and are asked to temporarily remove a face covering for identification purposes;
- Individuals who are actively engaged in a public safety role such as law enforcement, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel;
- Individuals who are officiating at a religious service; or
- Individuals who are giving a speech for broadcast or an audience.
The Governor highlighted the state’s success in obtaining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in what he called a “chaotic” marketplace.
“We want to get that PPE out — at least some of it — to support our school districts. So today, I wanted people to know that we have enough medical-grade masks that we will be able to send medical-grade masks to school districts. We will be able to help districts meet the needs of their teachers; we’re going to be able to get at least one mask per week” to all school staff that interact with students.
He also announced a two-week pause on granting variances to counties, stating, “We have to get control of this.”
9NEWS posted the entire 1-hour press conference on their website, here.
Mandatory mask orders were issued yesterday in Arkansas, Alabama and Montana as well. States already enforcing face covering mandates include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.