COVID-19 UPDATE: County Mask Mandates Rescinded

[Ken Lenarcic]

Boulder County’s Universal Mask Requirement Ends Feb. 18
But don’t throw those masks away; there are still a few situations where they are required.

The Boulder County Board of Health voted Monday evening to rescind both current public health orders concerning masking.  Both orders will expire on this Friday, February 18 at 5PM.  They are:

•  Public Health Order 2021-08 required all individuals 2+ to wear masks in all indoor settings regardless of vaccination status.
  
•  Public Health Order 2021-07 required masks for all childcare settings, pre-school, K-12 schools, and youth activities regardless of vaccination status.
  

As of February 18, there will be no Boulder County COVID related public health orders in effect.



Positive cases are falling dramatically but we are still in a state of high transmission. While masks will no longer be required by Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) after February 18; BCPH recommends all individuals 2+ wear a mask while around others. Schools, school districts, childcare centers, private businesses, and employers may choose to implement their own policy requiring masks for individuals in their space.

Federal and State (Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment) mask requirements remain in effect; we still must wear a mask in the following situations:

• Patients, staff, residents and visitors over age 11 to the following facilities must wear a mask if unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated- CDPH&E Order
  
  1. Homeless Shelters
     
  2. Prisons, Jails and community corrections facilities.
     
  3. Emergency medical and other healthcare settings; including hospitals, surgical centers, urgent care, clinics, doctors’ offices and non-urgent care facilities.
     
• Generally, most healthcare providers have indicated that they will initiate policies that require all persons, regardless of vaccination status, entering their facilities to wear a mask.
  
• Patients, staff, residents and visitors regardless of vaccination status in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities and group homes. CDPH&E Order
  
• Any person over the age 2+ regardless of vaccination status, when using public transit while boarding, traveling or disembarking: CDC Order
  
  1. Airplanes, trains, buses or any form of public transportation.
     
     1. In terminals, airports bus or train stations.
        
     2. On school buses. 
        

Here are some additional steps you can take to keep yourself, your family, friends and community safe:

• Get vaccinated and boosted –Get vaccinated against COVID-19, including the booster, and get your flu vaccine. Vaccines are safe, effective and free and provide significant protection against severe illness and hospitalization from the omicron variant. An up-to-date list of vaccine providers can be found at org/CovidVaccine. 
  
• Wear a mask –BCPH strongly recommends individuals 2+ wear an N95, KN95, KF94 or equivalent medical-grade mask over your nose and mouth while indoors and consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings while the county remains at a level of substantial or high transmission. CDPHE provides details on how to get free masks.
  
• Increase airflow and ventilation –Move gatherings outdoors when possible. While indoors, use HEPA filters or increase ventilation and airflow by opening windows or increasing air circulation.
  
• Wash your hands –Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. 
  
• Stay home if you’re sick –If you feel sick (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell or sore throat), stay home, get tested. Individuals should still adhere to isolation and quarantine guidance, including wearing a mask for five days after an initial five-day isolation period when in any public indoor setting.
  

The above information was provided by Boulder County Public Health at the Boulder County Agency Administrative meeting and advisory notice February 15, 2022.
Ken Lenarcic
Feb 15, 2022