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Coloradans can ditch the masks in most settings, Polis announces

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by
Kyle Cooke
• Published on
Governor Jared Polis announces that fully vaccinated Coloradans no longer need to wear masks in almost all settings.
Screen grab: Governor Jared Polis, Facebook
News | Rocky Mountain PBS

DENVER — Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that fully vaccinated Americans can go mask-free indoors in most places, Governor Jared Polis announced May 14 that fully vaccinated Coloradans can ditch their masks unless the “setting or business requires otherwise.”

Unvaccinated people 11 years old and up should continue wearing masks indoors and around others, the governor advised. But it will no longer be mandatory.

“We are going from mask-wearing requirements, to mask-wearing suggestions and guidance,” Polis said. “If you’re vaccinated, you don’t need to wear a mask at all. If you’re not vaccinated yet, we do suggest—not order—but suggest that you continue to wear a mask in indoor settings around others. But even more importantly: get vaccinated."

Also on Friday, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced the city would move to Level Clear on Sunday, May 16, meaning businesses can operate at 100% capacity.

Masks will still be mandatory in certain settings like prisons and jails, emergency medical settings, schools, and congregate care facilities, Polis said.

Watch the governor's full press conference below.

The governor said he is confident that unvaccinated Coloradans “will make the right choice to wear a mask, and of course the even more important choice to get [vaccinated] as quickly as possible."

A summary of the mask update from Polis' office.

Asked how businesses can verify that someone is vaccinated, Polis said businesses can still require masks if they want, or even ask for people’s vaccine cards.

“The pandemic is not over, but if you are vaccinated, it is largely over for you,” said the governor, who later admitted he never really liked wearing a mask.

Friday evening, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued an updated COVID-19 modeling report that said infections and hospitalizations will continue to decrease "if current transmission control is maintained."

However, the report also said COVID-19 infections "are still spreading at a high level" in Colorado. An estimated 1 out of every 81 Coloradans is infected with COVID-19.

During the press conference, Polis said the state’s polling suggests that between 75 and 80% of Coloradans are either vaccinated or plan to get their vaccines. As of May 13, close to 2.3 million Coloradans are fully vaccinated, about 40% of the state’s population.

According to estimates from CDPHE, 48% of Coloradans are immune to COVID-19 through vaccination or prior COVID-19 infection. Experts believe in order to reach herd immunity, 80% of the population would need to be immune, though reaching that mark is unlikely, according to The New York Times.

NPR projects 85% of Coloradans will be vaccinated by early August.

“We’re ready to return to normal because so many people are vaccinated,” Polis said. “So come along with us and get yourself vaccinated to enjoy that level of protection as well.”

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