As mask restrictions and other COVID mitigations ease, some local public health officials are hopeful that we're moving into a new phase of the pandemic.
Nathan Ryder, with the Southern 7 Health Department noted that lifting these mandates is based on the current situation, and people should be prepared for things to change if new COVID variants emerge that pose a greater risk.
"I think for the time being that people should keep that thought in their mind, that if cases start rising again, if another variant comes through and maybe it has some different, more severe implications behind it, that we are going to have to look at those mitigation procedures again," he said.
Ryder said removing mandates doesn't prohibit individual cities or businesses from continuing to require masks. Anyone who is vulnerable or concerned about catching COVID can also continue to wear their own mask.
