Today Colorado Governor Polis announced that the state is moving from mask wearing requirements to mask wearing suggestions and guidance. This means that if you are fully vaccinated you don't need to wear a mask except in certain situations. If you are not vaccinated the state does suggest that you continue to wear a mask in indoor situations around others, or get vaccinated.
Situations where masks will still be required by the state include jails, emergency and medical and healthcare settings, school and child care settings as well as congregate care facilities. Exceptions may be made when people can demonstrate they are fully vaccinated.
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Governor Polis did ask that as courteous Coloradans, people continue to bring a mask with them when out so that they can respectfully accommodate the request of any private business to wear one.
Eagle County Public Health and Environment (ECPHE) announced today that it intends to lift all local public health orders related to COVID-19 as of May 19, more than a week earlier than expected.
Federal regulations still require masks when using public transportation, which includes ECO Transit and the Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE).
“We felt confident that if we could achieve a community vaccination rate of 60% that we would see a rapid decrease in our disease rates,” said ECPHE Director Heath Harmon. “Our current data confirms this with our lowest disease incidence since October of 2020. As a result we will rescind public health orders earlier than originally planned.”
These announcements come on the heels of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) updated guidance that fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
County officials are also reminding residents of the importance of continuing to increase vaccination rates. The free COVID-19 vaccine is now available to anyone age 12 and older.
“While the news this week is highly encouraging, we must remember the disease is not gone,” Harmon said. “Every single person who gets vaccinated helps protect our community and our economy.”
Eagle County Public Health and Environment and Vail Health has opened the following clinics for anyone 12 years and older:
- Saturday, May 15 in Edwards at Battle Mountain High School from 9 a.m. to.1 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 19 in Vail at Vail Health from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (walk-in only)
- Thursday, May 20 in Gypsum at Eagle Valley High School from 3 to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, May 20 in El Jebel at the Eagle County Community Center from 3 to 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 21 in Edwards at Battle Mountain High School from 3 to 7 p.m.
Up to date on Eagle County COVID-19 data and vaccinations can be found here.