Douglas County health board, faced with lawsuit, is no longer allowing schools to opt out of mask

Douglas County health board, faced with lawsuit, is no longer allowing schools to opt out of mask mandates


The new Douglas County Board of Health on Friday amended its first public health order, which had allowed parents to opt their children out of COVID-19 masking mandates, so it would no longer applies to the Douglas County School District, which had sued over the order.

The revised order is written so it still applies to private businesses and private facilities such as child care centers and private schools. The amended heath order allows parents to opt their children out of masking rules at those facilities with a note declaring their children have a medical or mental health exemption. Adults can opt themselves out.

“There’s nothing left to sue us about,” health board President Doug Benevento said.

The Douglas County School District had joined several families in suing the Douglas County Health Department, alleging its public health order allowing opt outs violated civil rights by limiting safe access to education for students at risk of COVID-19.

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2021/11/15/douglas-county-health-board-schools-mask-mandate/