Face Covering Order Updated In Boulder County

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Boulder County has lowered the age of people required to wear masks in public indoor spaces, officials announced Friday. Previously, everyone older than 12 was required to wear masks in public anywhere social distancing couldn't be maintained, but the age has lowered to those over 10.

Jeff Zayach, Boulder County's Public Health executive director, said the age was lowered to better align with the statewide order.

“We’re making this update so it’s easier for all residents and visitors to our communities to understand and follow the masking requirement,” Zayach said in a statement.

“No matter where you are in Colorado, if you’re older than 10, you must wear a face covering at all times when inside public indoor spaces. Mask wearing is an important tool to help curb the acceleration of new cases, and it will allow us to make strides towards repairing our economy.”

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Children younger than two years old should not wear face coverings due to their risk of suffocation, county public health officials said. Anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove their mask without assistance should also refrain from wearing one.

In situations where local municipalities or school districts also have face covering orders in place, the most protective order takes precedence, officials said.

“We know this has been a long and difficult summer," Zayach said. "We are grateful to every single resident who continues to take steps to protect themselves and the community by wearing a face covering. If we all work together, we can keep the increase in new cases low, and help to protect our most vulnerable residents now and into the future.”

Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly to remove respiratory droplets, officials said. It’s also always best to handle them by the straps only and to wash hands before and after handling them in case they have been contaminated.