Johanna Ramirez works at her supermarket in Fort Lupton, Colorado, where she worries that not enough customers are taking precautions, such as wearing masks, to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), April 23, 2020.
Keith Coffman | Reuters
Colorado Governor Jared Polis joined a growing list of state leaders to order people to wear masks in public spaces indoors to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“This is a responsible, bipartisan and common sense step,” Polis said during a press conference at the Boettcher Mansion in Jefferson County, Colorado on Thursday. “We have a choice in Colorado, whether it’s more wearing masks and more attention to social distancing or more harm to our economy and loss of life.”
The mask order is in effect at midnight for at least 30 days and requires people to cover their faces while in indoor public places where they cannot keep a distance of at least 6 feet. There are exceptions to the guideline, such as children 9 years of age and younger and people with certain medical conditions and disabilities. Nor does this mandate apply in situations where people eat, drink, exercise, participate in religious worship, or speak to a televised audience.
The executive order comes after the state reported a total of 38,155 confirmed cases through Tuesday. The seven-day average of daily new cases in Colorado has increased nearly 46% from Wednesday compared to the previous week, according to CNBC data analysis compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The number of hospitalizations has also been steadily increasing in Colorado in recent months and the infection rate has accelerated, according to Dr. Rachel Herlihy, a state epidemiologist.
“We need to take this very seriously. Our lives depend on it. Our economy depends on it,” Polis said during the conference. “It is clear that right now, this is the least bad of the options that we have at our disposal.”
Colorado is among several states that recently issued a mask mandate as governors continue to deal with coronavirus outbreaks. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced a statewide mask order on Wednesday to contain the spread of the virus.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued an executive order earlier this month requiring residents across the state to cover their faces in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive Covid-19 cases. Abbott also issued a proclamation giving county mayors and judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people.
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