Denver Mask Mandate Starts Wednesday

DENVER, CO — A mask mandate has been issued in Denver, which will take effect Wednesday. The public health order requires people in certain public settings to wear face covers until further notice, Mayor Michael Hancock announced Friday.

“When we’re at the grocery store, work or any other business, my face covering protects you and your face covering protects me,” Hancock said in a statement. “The virus isn’t going away any time soon. By wearing a face covering, you're doing your part to reduce the spread of infections and keep everyone safer.”

Under the public health order, everyone will be required to wear face coverings while inside of, or waiting in line to enter, certain businesses, facilities and locations – such as retail or commercial business, bus stops and health care facilities.

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In a public notice, city officials said that "multiple agencies will be involved in enforcement, with the goal of compliance and keeping everyone safe through education."

>> Learn how to make your own mask through the Colorado Mask Project

The order defines a face covering as:

• Made of cloth, fabric or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face.
• May be factory-made or may be handmade and improvised from ordinary household materials.
• Should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction, and be able to be laundered and machine-dried without damage or change to shape.
• Need to cover the nose and mouth at all times and should remain in place until taken off safely.
• Should be replaced when it becomes dirty, wet, and/or difficult to breathe through.

A full list of where people need to wear face masks is available online.

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