Colorado groups applaud Gov. Polis’s mask wearing order

Groups include health, medical, labor, and public interest; represent thousands of Coloradans

CoPIRG

Seventeen health, medical, labor, and public interest organizations sent a letter to Governor Polis applauding his actions to require people to wear masks in indoor public spaces. The letter emphasized the importance of requiring mask wearing in Colorado to save lives. The full letter can be found below.

Statement by CoPIRG director Danny Katz:

“The Governor made the right call in requiring all of us to wear masks when we’re in public indoor spaces. Masks save lives. Our goal must be to stop the spread of the virus and minimize deaths. Mask wearing is essential to do that and this order removes any doubt of that.”

For more on the importance of the Governor’s executive order, you can read our blog. 

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Organization Letter

Dear Governor Polis,

We, the undersigned organizations, thank you for issuing your executive order requiring people wear masks in indoor public places with minor exceptions (such as for medical reasons). 

Mask wearing saves lives. 

When at least 70 to 80 percent of people in a given area wear masks, that strongly protects the community against transmission of the virus. However, if mask wearing drops to only 50 percent, the overall effectiveness is minimal. 

The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, one of the leading research institutions tracking the COVID-19 pandemic, says if we can get 95 percent of people to wear face masks, at least 33,000 fewer Americans will die by October 1. 

Your order sends a clear signal about the importance of mask wearing. Thank you for your leadership.

Sincerely,

Danny Katz, CoPIRG (Colorado Public Interest Research Group)

Ean Thomas Tafoya and Xochi Gaytan, Colorado Latino Forum

Josh Downey, Denver Area Labor Federation

Kate Stigberg, Healthier Colorado

Lauren Martens, SEIU Colorado

Julie Rieskin, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

Emily Gedeon and Jan Douglas, Colorado Sierra Club

Dennis Dougherty, Colorado AFL-CIO

Sharon O’Hara, Chronic Care Collaborative

Moe Keller, Mental Health Colorado

Jack Teter, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Piep van Heuven, Bicycle Colorado

Deya Zavala, Mile High Connects

Progress Asoluka,  The University of Colorado School of Medicine Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter 

Haley Shumway, American Medical Women’s Association

Jamie Burke, American Medical Women’s Association at Colorado State University

Zofia Lisowska,   American Medical Women’s Association CU Boulder Chapter