21 May San Miguel County: Face Coverings for Those Fully, Partially or Not Vaccinated!
San Miguel County updated its public health order Thursday, May 20 to align with the State of Colorado. This order, effective as of 1 am MST, lifted all capacity restrictions and removed face covering requirements in most settings.
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For more information regarding the updated public health order, visit the county’s COVID page: bit.ly/smccovidpage.
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The state and county have aligned with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance regarding face coverings. When it comes to families in the county, some additional guidance could be helpful.
Fully Vaccinated Households
If everybody in your household is at least two weeks past their full vaccine series, you can comfortably resume pre-pandemic activities without masks and return to life as normal for the most part.
The CDPHE and county require that people 11 years and older continue to wear masks when visiting healthcare settings, nursing homes, correctional facilities and homeless shelters or while traveling on public transportation. Additionally, masks need to be worn in school and childcare settings and within indoor public spaces with 100 people or more.
The Almost-Vaccinated
If at least one person is in the process of getting vaccinated, but not yet two weeks beyond the full dose, the almost-vaccinated should be cautious as the community begins to open up. Masks should be worn by almost-vaccinated people when indoors or when in close proximity to others outdoors.
Those with Young Children
Vaccine trials are underway for children 6 months to 11 years of age, though vaccines may not be approved for this age group until the fall.
“Stay vigilant. Our unvaccinated children should be treated the same as unvaccinated adults, the same level of risk exists for all people that haven’t received a vaccine,” said Dr. Christine Mahoney, Director of Primary Care at Telluride Regional Medical Center. “The new CDC data shows that a child is safest when their family members are vaccinated. When getting together with other households indoors, I would advise that anybody that is not fully vaccinated continue to wear a mask.”
The Unvaccinated
The CDC, CDPHE and San Miguel County Public Health strongly encourage those who are not vaccinated to continue the use of masks in indoor public settings or crowded outdoor spaces. The best way to protect children and the immunocompromised is to get vaccinated.
“Our new public health order places responsibility for each individual’s health in their own hands,” said Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “There are people who cannot get vaccinated and will remain vulnerable to COVID, often due to their age or their health. It is the responsibility of the healthy to protect these friends, neighbors, children and loved ones by getting their vaccine.”
If an individual, vaccinated or unvaccinated, experiences symptoms of COVID-19, Public Health encourages them to stay home until they can get tested.
Public Health has confirmed five new positive cases of COVID-19 from test results received from May 14 through 20. Of these cases, three are confirmed as residents and all actively contagious cases are currently in isolation.
70-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, travel
49-year-old female, nonresident, symptomatic, social
23-year-old female, nonresident, symptomatic, community
10-year-old male, resident, symptomatic, community
7-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, household
As of release time today, there have been 876 total COVID cases among residents to date with 2 active cases.
To learn more about the county’s current COVID-19 metrics, please visit the County COVID-19 dashboard.
Power The Comeback:
Crowded places, covered faces
Get vaccinated
Stay home when sick and get tested
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