Denver drops outdoor mask mandate, will move to Level Blue on Friday

share

DENVER — The City and County of Denver will be dropping its requirement for masks to be worn in outdoor spaces, Mayor Michael Hancock announced in an April 14 press conference.

The updated mask mandate takes immediate effect and will expire in 30 days, at which point the city will reevaluate.

Hancock emphasized that masks are still required in indoor settings and on public transportation for anyone ages three and up.

The mayor also announced that on Friday, April 16, Denver will be moving to Level Blue restrictions on the state’s COVID-19 dial. That is the same day the state’s dial will transition from a mandatory health order to simply an advisory tool, meaning local jurisdictions—like Denver—will have control on which COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

COVID-19 cases are currently climbing in Denver, and the city meets the criteria to remain in the more-restrictive Level Yellow, but Hancock and Executive Director Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Bob McDonald said the city will keep a close eye on vaccinations, COVID-19 variants, case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19.

Denver’s surrounding counties are all currently in Level Yellow, but several plan to also make the move to Level Blue. Jefferson County will move to Level Blue, and the Tri-County Health Department, which serves Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, issued a new public health order that will move those counties to Level Blue as well. However, the Douglas County board of commissioners opted out of the order.

These are the other counties moving to Level Blue, according to CDPHE:

  • Broomfield (modified)
  • Gunnison (modified)
  • Jefferson
  • Larimer 
  • Arapahoe
  • Boulder 
  • Adams
  • Archuletta
  • La Plata

 

Under Level Blue, restaurants and gyms can open at full capacity so long as six feet of social distancing remains between parties. Bars are able to open at 25% capacity.

Mayor Hancock’s announcements come as nearly 42% of Denver residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 23% of the city’s population is fully vaccinated. Hancock pleaded for people to encourage their vaccine-hesitant friends and family members to get their shots.

Credit: City and County of Denver

"These vaccines are going to be how we beat this virus once and for all," the mayor said.

McDonald emphasized that the faster people get vaccinated, the slower the COVID-19 virus is able to mutate. McDonald said that the COVID-19 variants now make up a majority of the city’s cases.

Rocky Mountain PBS has aired a series of town hall discussions with public health experts who answer common questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines. You can watch them all in the video player below.