Unvaccinated folks in medical services, homeless shelters, jails and prisons should proceed to put on masks inside, well being officers mentioned Saturday as they prolonged Colorado’s solely statewide masks mandate.
“The prevalence of the Delta variant, coupled with the truth that many eligible Coloradans will not be absolutely vaccinated, is threatening our progress right here in Colorado,” Scott Bookman, COVID-19 incident commander on the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Setting, mentioned in a information launch.
The masks mandate, which had been anticipated to run out in June, will now expire Sept. 1, except it’s prolonged for a 3rd time. The rule exempts kids underneath the age of 11, folks with medical situations who can not tolerate sporting masks and “people who’re actively engaged in a public security position,” like firefighters, law enforcement officials and paramedics, amongst others.
The Facilities for Illness Management final week beneficial that even vaccinated folks put on masks in indoor public locations in counties with “excessive” or “substantial” unfold of COVID-19 — which incorporates the vast majority of counties in Colorado. However native and state authorities have up to now declined to require masks in Denver or Colorado as an entire.
The state’s well being division has beneficial college districts take into account requiring masks for workers members and college students as college resumes this fall.