BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado. – Boulder County again puts an inner mask requirement on all community members 2 years of age or older.
Even vaccinated people will have to wear masks in indoor public spaces due to the recent increase in the delta variant, according to Boulder County Public Health.
The order will apply to all public environments, including, but not limited to, public transportation, private and public offices, retail stores, restaurants, bars, event centers, gyms, recreation centers, and facilities. manufacturing.
The order allows for an exception for indoor public masking for employers, homeowners, and operators who have voluntarily implemented vaccination requirements testing for all employees, staff, visitors, and employers entering their facilities. Businesses and event owners and operators should contact [email protected] for more information on obtaining approval for a mask exception.
The Boulder County Health Board approved the public health order during the Sept. 2 meeting.
The order goes into effect Friday at 5 p.m.
The public health order says the goal is to “control and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in order to maintain a consistent care capacity in Boulder County to adequately treat patients with the disease.”
The order follows the CDC’s suggestion that it be recommended that high-transmission areas, which are considered to exceed 100 cases per 100,000, wear masks in indoor public settings. The current transmission rate in Boulder County is 136.42 cases per 100,000.
The order will oversee the monitoring of CDC community transmissions in Boulder County and will require masks during periods of substantial or high transmission and for the first 21 days after moving to moderate or low transmission. After 21 days with moderate or low transmission levels, masks will be recommended but no longer needed.
However, the public health order will remain in effect and Boulder County may return to the inner mask requirement if COVID-19 transmission rates return to high or substantial for five consecutive days.
“Second only after vaccination, the adoption of a universal mask order is an extremely effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and minimize disruptive cycles of reactionary orders, and it is particularly important to see a quick change, ”said Camille Rodriguez, BCPH executive director. “With a long-term layered mitigation strategy, we have a sustainable and proactive strategy. By adopting a universal mask order now, we can preserve the resources of our health care system, protect the health of our community, and avoid hugely impactful capacity and distance restrictions. ”
Boulder County previously lifted its indoor face coverage order on June 10th.