Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, declared in a brand new interview that the COVID-19 emergency is “over” and that he gained’t be implementing one other statewide masks mandate in response to the unfold of the omicron variant, explaining that if folks aren’t vaccinated at this level it’s their “own darn fault” in the event that they get sick.
“Everybody had more than enough opportunity to get vaccinated,” Polis informed Colorado Public Radio on Friday. “Hopefully it’s been at your pharmacy, your grocery store, a bus near you, [or at] big events. At this point, if you haven’t been vaccinated, it’s really your own darn fault.”
“Those who get sick, it’s almost entirely their own darn fault,” he continued. “I don’t want to say that nobody [will get the virus if they’re] vaccinated, but it’s very rare. Just to put it in perspective, of the about 1400 people hospitalized, less than 200 (or 16 percent) are vaccinated. And many of them are older or have other conditions. Eighty-four percent of the people in our hospitals are unvaccinated, and they absolutely had every chance to get vaccinated.”
“And at this point, I think it’s almost like they made a deliberate decision not to get vaccinated,” he added. “I still encourage everybody who hasn’t been vaccinated to get protected. And for those who are, make sure to get that booster after six months. The data shows it’s important and very likely even more so with this omicron variant.”
Polis stated he supported native jurisdictions instituting their very own mandates in accordance with their particular person wants, however that the state ought to keep out of it.
“The emergency is over,” he stated. “You know, public well being [officials] don’t get to inform folks what to put on; that’s simply not their job. Public well being [officials] would say to at all times put on a masks as a result of it decreases flu and reduces [other airborne illnesses]. But that’s not one thing that you simply require; you don’t inform folks what to put on. You don’t inform folks to put on a jacket after they exit in winter and drive them to [wear it]. If they get frostbite, it’s their very own darn fault.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated, that’s your choice. I respect that. But it’s your fault when you’re in the hospital with COVID,” he added.
Polis lamented that there’s an “alternate misinformation universe” contributing to folks not getting vaccinated.
“There are people that believe you and I are part of some massive conspiracy, Ryan,” he informed “Colorado Matters” host Ryan Warner. “Some of them believe there is no COVID; some of them believe the vaccine doesn’t work; some believe that the vaccine has severe side effects. The truth is they’re in their own bubble, and it’s very hard to penetrate.”
The governor’s feedback comply with new restrictions instituted in a number of Denver metro space counties, together with a “vax or mask” mandate, which requires companies to both mandate masks indoors or require clients to offer proof of vaccination.
