Gov. Polis Provides Update on Colorado COVID-19 Response

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis was joined by Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, to provide an update on the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor and Ryan emphasized the importance of Coloradans modifying social behavior and following social distancing rules.

“We know we can’t behave the way we did last summer, or even the way we did in February. Though we have taken steps to open up more of our economy, we have to remain vigilant,” said Governor Jared Polis. “If we continue keeping a safe distance of six feet from others, mask up when we leave the house, and connect with each other virtually when possible, we’ll start to see less tests coming back positive for COVID-19 and begin to create more opportunities to get our economy back on track. The nature of the virus alone does a great job of setting us back. Do not give the virus the power to do what it does best: spread by engaging in risky, irresponsible, and thoughtless behavior.”

In order to curb some of that social behavior, the Governor announced that, for the next 30 days, the State is suspending all alcohol sales after 10:00 p.m. each day. This will apply to all entities that are licensed to sell liquor. “All licensees contained in Articles 3, 4, and 5 of Title 44 of the Colorado Revised Statutes must cease alcohol beverage sales to end consumers at 10:00 P.M. each day,” the Executive Order reads. The Order takes effect at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Read the full Executive Order. 

Amidst rising cases, CDPHE has created a system to work with counties experiencing high transmission. Counties whose metrics put them in violation of their variance have two weeks to reverse their disease trend to keep their variance. If a county is unable to reverse the trend, the variance will be revoked and the county must follow the Safer at Home Executive Order.  

CDPHE has requested that such counties submit a mitigation plan with strategies such as social distancing orders, increased testing and contact tracing, enforcement of social distancing and mask wearing, and increased education. Counties also have the option to revert to the Safer at Home Executive Order, which eight counties have decided to do in lieu of a mitigation plan.  

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

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