Colorado will lift its state mask mandate on April 4 and facilitate coronavirus protocols, even as experts say it is not yet certain to do so.
Leading the news: Governor Jared Polis’s administration released a draft plan that takes a two-pronged approach to ease restrictions on the lower levels of the state’s marking system and make it easier for counties to reach them.
- It takes effect on Wednesday, a year after Polis issued a statewide shutdown and ultimately sends a decision on the mask requirement to local governments and businesses.
How it works: Under the proposed changes, facial coverage would not be required in Level Green counties, except for school ages 11-18.
- The state would make it easier to reach this lower level by allowing a rate of 35 cases per 100,000 instead of the current 15 cases per 100,000.
- In addition, the state is lowering capacity limits to other levels to reopen bars and allow more indoor dinners.
- Most counties are at higher levels. Denver is on the yellow level.
The state of play: The move comes two weeks after President Biden described the removal of public health orders as mask warrants “a big mistake” and “Neanderthal thinking.”
The other side: Polis administration officials say it is justified because more people are being vaccinated.
- “It’s a balance … to curb the disease while trying to limit the ramifications of closing parts of the state and the impacts it entails,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, director of the public health department at the state.
Reality check: Only 15% of Colorado is fully immunized and experts say the state is unlikely to reach herd immunity by the end of the year.
This story first appeared in the Axios Denver newsletter, designed to help readers be smarter and faster on the most relevant news unfolding in their own garden.