Mask Order Could Be Slowing Rate Of Increase In COVID-19 Cases, Polis Says

From the Colorado Newsline:

By Faith Miller
July 28, 2020

A mask mandate implemented July 17 could already be slowing the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases throughout Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said during a July 28 news briefing.

The Democratic governor said that the state had “probably already” seen the effect of the mask order in the “decrease in the rate of increase” of cases.

The state experienced problems with its COVID-19 reporting system July 26 and 27, so it was not immediately clear whether post-July 24 data had been updated to account for the discrepancy.

As of July 24, however, areas of the state experiencing “elevated incidence growth” — a high number of cases and increasing growth rate — included South Central Colorado (Chaffee, Lake, Park and Teller counties), Denver County, Boulder County, Jefferson County, Adams County and Arapahoe County, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The rest of the state was experiencing stable growth rates (“elevated incidence plateau” or “low incidence plateau”), though many areas were seeing a high number of cases relative to population.

Polis said the state’s objective is to maintain at least 55% social distancing throughout the pandemic, which means residents having fewer than half of the close interactions they typically would. The state’s weekly average positivity rate is just south of 5%, the percentage that the World Health Organization says is a good target (a rate higher than that could mean a state isn’t doing enough testing).

“With more openings and more activity there’s a rise in case counts, you know — that’s expected,” Polis said. “The real issue is, can we prevent a trajectory where it continues to rise.”

Ahead of his July 28 briefing on COVID-19, Polis sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation outlining the state’s needs for the next coronavirus relief package.

“Without additional federal assistance, the state’s budget will face at least a $6 billion shortfall through the next two fiscal years,” Polis wrote, adding that 59 out of 64 Colorado counties did not receive direct funding through March’s economic stimulus legislation.

“I support the call of the nonpartisan National Governors Association, and urge you to allocate at least $500 billion in direct and flexible relief to states, plus additional funding for local governments,” he continued.

Colorado received around $1.7 billion through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which President Donald Trump signed in March. Polis unilaterally allocated all but $70 million of that funding through executive order, which angered many Republicans.

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