Mayor Enacts Additional Denver Mask and Social Gathering Mandates
Denver City Public Health has determined it is best to enact additional mask mandates in more public settings and has reduced ‘unregulated social gatherings from ten to five people.
This decision comes with concern over data that suggests the COVID-19 infection rates have begun to rise yet again. Public health officials believe if we continue with the trajectory we are on, we will soon be back at the rates of COVID-10 infections we experienced in April. So it seems additional mask mandate and unregulated social gatherings restrictions are key.
Denver’s COVID-19 case numbers have been rising for about four consecutive weeks now. Due to the rise in COVID-19 infections, Mayor Michael B. Hancock announced new public health measures to enforce on October 16. The plan to enact additional mask mandates and unregulated social gathering restrictions is with the plan to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The new, increased mask mandate and mask requirements became effective immediately until it will be in place until further notice. The new, reduced gathering order is significant through November 16.
“Over the past several weeks, we have worked hard to reduce our caseloads and keep hospitalizations from increasing,” Mayor Hancock explained. “But, we need to do more. With the holidays on the horizon, we must take these additional steps over the next 30 days and knuckle down together to do the hard work that needs to be done so we can all enjoy this upcoming holiday season.
“If we don’t, we likely will fall backwards on the state’s Safer at Home dial to Level 3, and that would be devastating to our economy,” the Mayor added. “We are working to strike a balance between keeping people healthy and keeping Denver’s economy alive.”
It is worth mentioning that the new mask mandates do not apply to people living in the same household or alone. Masks must now be worn whenever outdoors with people other than those from the same residence. Face coverings need to be worn out with people other than those from the same home when people cannot practice social distancing efficiently.
The new gathering restrictions will affect people meeting in unregulated settings such as private gathers at home or when in parks and other locations. Previously, the city public health officials recommended that no more than ten people gather in unregulated social gatherings, and now, it has been reduced to five. The hope is that the public will adhere to the new limits to avoid more restrictive measures.
In restaurant settings, ten people from different households may continue to sit together. This activity falls under the state public health orders in which restaurants must already have protective criteria in place—such as only taking off face coverings when seated and specific sanitation measures. These safeguards don’t exist in unregulated settings like parks, so reducing the number of gathered people is required.
Related article: DENVER’S DRIVE-IN HAUNTED HOUSE EXPERIENCE
Denver’s use of mask/face covering mandates and maintaining social distancing have proven to be useful tools in fighting the spread of COVID-19. In addition to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, masks and social distancing do not negatively impact this country’s economic functions. Even so, after closely monitoring trends, Denver public health experts have concluded that Denver’s case numbers are higher than they’ve ever been.
Click here to see how Colorado is doing fighting the virus. Visit Denver’s testing web page for updated info about community-based sites and hours. For more information and to read the latest update to Denver’s public health orders, visit denvergov.org/covid19.
