Governor Polis Provides Update on Colorado Response to COVID-19, Urges Coloradans to Keep up Safety Protocols

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis and Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, provided an update on the state’s response to COVID-19 and discussed recent trends including an uptick in cases and hospitalizations over the last few weeks. 

“This is a critical moment, and it is up to us what path we put ourselves and our state on these next few months,” said Governor Jared Polis. “To a large extent, these next few weeks will determine how the rest of the year will unfold. We’ve come too far together to get complacent or fatigued. We must remain vigilant and do a better job of avoiding large crowds, wearing masks, physically distancing, and washing our hands.”

On September 4, there were 132 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state and on October 5, there were 233. As Colorado approaches into flu season, upcoming holidays, and colder temperatures, it’s critical that everyone continue taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus.

Gov. Polis provided an update on testing sites around the state and new community testing sites that will be coming online. Community testing sites will allow for a more targeted approach and efficient use of resources. The Montbello Recreation Center and Paco Sanchez Park are two new community sites opening up in Denver this week, and Restoration Christian Fellowship’s parking lot will also be utilized as a community testing site in Aurora. Water World also remains open daily from 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. and STRIDE is offering testing at seven additional locations. Coloradans can visit covid19.colorado.gov/testing for testing locations nearby.

The Governor also applauded the state testing team and the State Lab for reaching the highest single day of tests reported at 19,761. In fact, the State Lab set a record for the week, processing 35,727 tests. Over the last week (ending 10/2), the State Lab and partners across the state averaged nearly 17,000 tests per day in Colorado with more than 90% of all results being returned in three days or less.

Gov. Polis today extended Executive Orders to provide boards of county commissioners with broader discretion and greater flexibility to implement restrictions on open burning, providing relief to public utility customers, and expanding the health care workforce for hospitals and other inpatient treatment facilities. The Governor also amended the Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors Executive Order, which aligns the last call for takeout alcohol with the last call for in person service time as established by each county by the Safer at Home dial. 

View the news conference on the Governor’s Facebook page.  

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