It didn鈥檛 take long for the Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon in Fort Collins to loosen up its mask policy.
鈥淔ull capacity + No social distancing = Let鈥檚 get this party started!!!!,鈥� the saloon鈥檚 owners posted to their Facebook account shortly after Gov. Jared Polis announced Colorado would drop its mask mandate for vaccinated residents.
In the days since, the self-described music venue, dance hall, rodeo event center and night club has hosted a live concert, removed signs reminding customers around the building that masks are required for everyone and restarted group dance lessons.
鈥淲e CANNOT wait to have a normal life around here,鈥� the saloon鈥檚 post read. 鈥淲e have asked you to help us follow the rules for the sake of being a responsible member of our local business community, and we thank you!!鈥�
With the blessing of state and local health officials, many Northern Colorado businesses have followed suit and dropped mask requirements that have been in place for nearly a year. Meanwhile, other institutions, such as schools and hospitals, are holding on to theirs, taking a more cautious approach to returning to normal life.
The varying policy shifts have given rise to a patchwork of mask requirements across the region. Public health officials, in response, have urged residents to keep face coverings on-hand in case they encounter a business or building that requires them.
And many still do.
King Soopers said this week it will continue requiring shoppers to keep their faces covered until May 20. In the meantime, the company is encouraging workers to get vaccinated if they haven鈥檛 already.
鈥淎s we have throughout the pandemic, we are reviewing current safety practices, the CDC鈥檚 latest guidance, and soliciting feedback from associates to guide the next phase of our policy,鈥� the company said in a statement.
JBS said in a statement it will require its thousands of meatpacking plant workers in Greeley to continue masking up while on the clock.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is increasing seating capacity for shows to 6,300 fans. The venue will resume its full capacity of 9,500 on June 21, but masks will still be required inside the visitor center, trading post and restrooms. Other venues are taking a similar tactic.
Major school districts in the region are asking teachers and students to stay masked in the classroom for the remainder of the school year.
Theresa Myers, communications chief for Greeley-Evans District 6, said the district鈥檚 mask policies would continue at least through summer school because many students still aren鈥檛 eligible for a vaccine.
鈥淵ounger kids are still getting sick and they鈥檙e exposing their classmates and our staff,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淪o we鈥檙e just erring on the side of caution and really just trying to do what we can to keep our students and staff healthy.鈥�
Colorado first implemented a mask mandate in July 2020. The law, along with strict social distancing requirements, was meant to control the spread of COVID-19. Studies have shown the strategy worked.
But the policy sparked outrage and protests. Businesses struggled to keep up with the requirement, among many other changing rules.
A handful of local governments, such as Weld County, openly defied the state鈥檚 mask mandate, encouraging businesses to make their own choices about enforcement. Still, masks became a staple of public life across the state.
The loosened requirements come as Colorado鈥檚 total COVID-19 case numbers have been steadily declining for weeks. More than 2.8 million people have gotten at least one dose of vaccine, but the pace of vaccination has slowed.
Echoing the Centers for Disease Control, Gov. Polis and top state public health officials have stressed that unvaccinated residents should continue to mask up. Polis issued an extended public health order through June 1 that requires masks for unvaccinated residents in most public settings.
鈥淚f you are not vaccinated, please take this moment to have the urgency to get vaccinated,鈥� Polis said in a press conference announcing the looser guidelines. 鈥淎 lot of the protections that you鈥檝e been relying on to keep you safe 鈥� those are all going away.鈥�
Many businesses with looser mask policies aren鈥檛 checking for proof of vaccination. Instead, they鈥檙e relying on the honor system.
Courtney Samuel stopped requiring masks for vaccinated clients at his gym, Bodies by Perseverance, in Denver鈥檚 Five Points neighborhood this week. Staff are now asking unvaccinated customers to keep their masks on through verbal communication and new signage.
He hasn鈥檛 had any issues yet, Samuel said.
鈥淲e feel that, in our community, people are going to tell us the truth,鈥� he said.
In Estes Park, Melissa Strong has removed the floor-to-ceiling dividers between the indoor tables of her restaurant, Bird & Jim. The space is back to full capacity and she鈥檚 posted signs about the state鈥檚 new, looser mask guidance.
She doesn鈥檛 plan on quizzing diners on their vaccination status either.
鈥淚 believe if we did so, we would put our employees in a very vulnerable and volatile position,鈥� Strong said. 鈥淎fter a hard year, I鈥檓 not going to ask them to do that.鈥�
Note: This story has been updated to reflect that King Soopers is dropping its mask requirements for vaccinated residents. The grocery chain says it will implement new CDC guidance on masks at stores beginning May 20.
Stacy Nick contributed reporting.
