COVID-19 Update

A State of Emergency

Governor Polis announced on Tuesday that the State of Colorado is formally in a State of Emergency due to the coronavirus COVID-19. This afternoon, the leaders of the Colorado Legislature have begun to put in motion the closure of the General Assembly for at least two weeks.

This is far from ideal while so many critical pieces of legislation still hang in the balance, but the most important thing right now is to keep people healthy and safe.

We don’t know how bad this public health emergency might get, but we do know there are going to be many personal and economic consequences. In the coming days, Governor Polis will likely be issuing additional Executive Orders to provide clarity on how the state is responding to this crisis and issuing emergency orders on businesses and individuals to help relieve some of the impacts.

A note on the upcoming Colorado Primary

The political parties are scheduled to hold their County and State Assemblies over the coming weeks in order to nominate candidates for the June Primary ballot. Since this includes thousands of people convening all over the state, often in schools, we have been working on a bill to allow the parties flexibility for remote participation and deadline extensions. That bill, HB1359, was introduced yesterday and we will be coming in tomorrow, Saturday, to take a final vote and pass it into law before we adjourn.

COVID-19 Resources

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Governor’s Office, and the Legislature will continue to work together to actively respond to the situation, and to provide additional information. Please keep an eye on my Facebook and Twitter for further updates, in addition to the Governor’s Office and CDPHE.

To prioritize your own health and safety, please consult with local health care professionals, and take advantage of the resources that have been provided. Below is some information with up

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Colorado: This page contains all of the links below along with all media releases from CDPHE regarding COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Fast Facts: This link will take you to a frequently updated sheet which will allow you to see the number of positive tests in Colorado by county along with some detail about each confirmed case.
• COVID-19 Facts for Coloradans: For information about the disease, how to avoid spreading it, and other actions to take to remain safe.
• COVID-19 Recommendations: For recommendations from CDPHE in consultation with the CDC for how to handle COVID-19 in regards to high-risk populations, public events, workplaces, and schools.
• COVID-19 Testing: This link will take you through all of the proper steps surrounding how and when someone should go about getting a test for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Resources for Local Public Health Agencies and Healthcare Providers: This link will help any local health agencies and healthcare providers navigate all of the necessary steps for dealing with COVID-19.
• Follow the following Twitter accounts for frequent update
  • @COHealth
  • @CDPHE
  • @COEmergency
  • @CDCGov
• Follow the following Facebook pages for updates
  • https://www.facebook.com/jaredpolis/
  • https://www.facebook.com/CDPHE/
  • https://www.facebook.com/COEmergency/

Stay safe,