Colo. Gov. Polis says COVID-19 emergency ‘is over’

carleyshaffer1December 11, 2021

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks at a press conference. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:32 PM PT – Saturday, December 11, 2021

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has refused to revive his statewide mask mandate amid a heated interview with a reporter. Polis bucked the trend of blue governors and has instead chosen to defend freedom in Colorado, but not without ruffling some liberal feathers.

“The emergency is over. So, you know, public health doesn’t get to tell people what to wear. I mean, that’s not their job,” said Polis.

He then stood his ground as liberal journalist Ryan Warner interrogated him, bringing up an anonymous complaint about not having a mask mandate. Warner said the anonymous individual is a healthcare worker and has questioned why when she goes anywhere, she’s the only one wearing a mask.

Gov. Polis assured he’s doing everything he can to support healthcare workers while following the science, which he says shows excessive mandates aren’t needed when everyone has the opportunity to get vaccinated. Instead of answering the anonymous question directly, Polis thanked healthcare workers for everything they’ve done throughout the entirety of the pandemic.

I also share the words of an exhausted nurse who wants a statewide mask mandate.

He thanks her for her work and reiterates: “The emergency is over. Public health doesn’t get to tell people what to wear. That’s just not their job…”

— Ryan Warner (@cprwarner) December 9, 2021

After he was cut off by the interviewer, in a rare turn of events for a governor in a blue state, Polis stressed mask mandates aren’t needed and highlighted that it’s each individual’s responsibility to take care of their health.

“I think it’s great to wear a mask indoors around others, but when you’re not in an emergency situation…public health would say always wear a mask. Say it always decreases flu and decreases anything, but that’s not something that you require,” said Polis. “You don’t tell people what to wear. You don’t tell people to wear a jacket when they go out in the winter or force them to. If they get frostbite, it’s their own darn fault.”

Despite growing opposition that Polis has been facing from mainstream media, numerous Colorado residents and lawmakers, including representative and former small business owner Lauren Boebert, believe his decision to repeal the mandate was long overdue.