COLORADO — Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Colorado, with the statewide total at 13,879 cases as of Monday afternoon, including 706 deaths and 2,485 people hospitalized.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a new site offering details on COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.
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Check here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Colorado Springs and Pueblo have both set up hotlines for people to call with questions about COVID-19. In Colorado Springs, call 719-575-8888 or the United Way 2-1-1 hotline. In Pueblo, call 719-583-4444.
Below, we're updating this blog with the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Colorado.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2020
This weekend the Downtown Partnership in Colorado Springs is kicking off Social Distance Saturdays.
It's a chance for customers to have a private shopping experience and for businesses - a good way to cash in during this economic blight.
It's an event that will be happening every Saturday in May. The idea - getting a group of 10 people or less through the doors of a business.
6:06 p.m. | Colorado Renaissance Festival postponed until August
The 2020 Colorado Renaissance Festival has been postponed due to current health concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak, festival organizers tweeted. The new dates will be Saturday August 1 for eight weekends with a closing day of Sunday, September 20. Dates will be posted publicly on both the festival's website and announced through social media outlets.
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers in Colorado
14,316 cases
2,571 hospitalized
56 counties
67,094 people tested
149 outbreaks
736 deaths
Find the latest information from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment here.
3:57 p.m. | Kaiser Permanente, CDPHE expanding Front Range testing
Kaiser Permanente and the CDPHE are expanding COVID-19 testing for symptomatic health care workers and first responders – including EMTs, law enforcement, firefighters and corrections officers.
Kaiser and the CDPHE will now test non-members referred by the health department who have been deemed essential to the public welfare.
The eight locations are: Kaiser Permanente Loveland, Rock Creek (Lafayette), Westminster, Lakewood, Aurora Centrepoint, Lone Tree, Parkside (Colorado Springs) and Acero (Pueblo).
Testing at each location will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Rock Creek, Westminster and Acero locations are not open on weekends, however.
Health care workers and first responders who are not Kaiser Permanente members should call the CDPHE at 303-692-2700 for an initial screening, after which the department would coordinate appointments.
Kaiser Permanente members can go to kp.org/coronavirus or call 303-338-4545 for more information.
2:33 p.m. | AP: Trump to sign order keeping meat processing plants open
President Donald Trump is expected to order all meatpacking facilities to reopen amid the COVID-19 crisis, according to an Associated Press report. The president will sign an executive order Tuesday, classifying meat processing as a critical industry under the Defense Production Act.
1:30 p.m. | White House press conference regarding Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19
1:15 p.m.| City, county leaders give update on state safer-at-home order
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers thanked residents in Colorado Springs and El Paso County for their cooperation with the initial stay-at-home order and being able to enter the new safer-at-home phase. He said he believes residents understand the gravity of the situation and that as we continue to share the responsibility, we can look back at this crisis as "one of our finest moments."
Dr. Robin Johnson with the El Paso County Public Health Department said they are working hard to provide answers to those with questions on new guidelines that are now in effect. While data is encouraging in the county, Johnson said it is still important to monitor. She said the department is using data and keeping track of the virus as the community slowly reopens.
The health department has increased local testing efforts and Johnson said this is a very important step during this phase. She said residents should take advantage of these test sites and they are working to identify COVID-19 clusters or trends. President Dirk Draper of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce said they are working to reopen businesses safely and as soon as they can. They are convening a local recovery council in collaboration with the health department, city and county to discuss objectives in the business community.
The business community is encouraged to practice safety measures and follow the guidelines put in place by the city and county. "The business community has been hit hard by the [pandemic] and we must be heard," Draper said. The Chamber of Commerce is offering online services to educate businesses on how to continue post-coronavirus.
CommissioneMark Waller with El Paso County said the county continues to provide service throughout the recovery process. He said the county has a required leadership role in the recovery process and getting benefits to those in hard times. The county received a grant of $125.7 million late last week from the federal government that will be distributed to municipalities in the region. Suthers added they are awaiting federal guidance on how these funds should be spent.
Waller said these funds will be distributed in a 55% and 45% split, with 55% being kept by the county. The remaining 45% will be distributed based on a "per capita basis."
Waller said he does not believe the city or county have the ability to reopen more quickly than set by the state. He said they do have the ability to be more restrictive if they deemed it necessary. Suthers said that based off the governor's order, the city can choose to be more restrictive than the order entails. He said "among the major metropolitan areas" we are less restrictive. In order to request being less restrictive, Suthers said data from the health department should support that reasoning.
He said he is listening to the health department and he is comfortable with the pace the city is going. Waller said the first priority is the safety of the residents in El Paso County and the economic "vitality" of citizens as well. To go forward with requesting less restrictive measures, the waiver request would have to be signed off by the health department and hospitals before going before the governor to sign off on.
In regards to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, Johnson said there are dedicated health department representatives working to give them specific guidance. She said as the department analyzes positive cases and the exposure from those cases, they will continue investigations as more reopening measures are implemented. She said they hope that with additional testing, it will allow early identification of positives and allow a faster response to isolate those people.
1:03 p.m. | Colorado receives $10.3M from HHS to build up tracing, testing programs; hope to test 10K per day
Colorado received $10.3 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week to build up its COVID-19 contact tracing and testing programs as the state continues to spend millions in its response to the novel coronavirus.
The CDPHE said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will be issuing further guidance this week on spending parameters for the money received by the department. But the CDPHE said that generally, the money is for two years and intended to cover the following:
· Enhanced case investigation, contact tracing and outbreak response – especially in high-risk setting and among at-risk populations
· Improved surveillance and reporting
· Strengthened and enhanced lab testing
· Improved lab coordination and outreach
· Enhanced workforce capacity
· Enhanced coordination between epidemiologists and labs
· Advancement of electronic information exchange implementation
· Enhanced information systems between health care systems and state and local public health agencies
The CDPHE said it hopes to have plans in place for how to best use the money in “the next few weeks.”
Click here to read the full story.
12:55 p.m.| WATCH LIVE: Local officials give update on safer-at-home order
12:15 p.m. | Aspen will require masks in city limits
The Aspen City Council on Monday passed a resolution requiring the wearing of face masks in city limits. The order goes into effect Wednesday. Violating the order could result in a penalty of $50 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense and a mandatory court appearance for any offense after that, including up to a $2,650 fine and one-year imprisonment.
9:19 a.m.| Board of County Commissioners Vice Chair requests waiver to reopen sooner
Longinos Gonzales brought up at a county commissioners meeting that asking permission from the state to reopen sooner would be helpful based off data and to get people back to work. He said if this were to happen, the health department would be able to determine who would be able to reopen.
9:07 a.m.| El Paso County Sheriff says evictions would be behind by the time community reopens
Sheriff Bill Elder said in the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners meeting that they are in the process of returning to "normal" as the community slowly opens back up. He said he believes the sheriff's office would be behind 300 evictions by the time we are reopened.
He said in the El Paso County jail, there are no COVID-19-related symptoms among inmates.
8 a.m.| Struggling to pay May rent? Here are some options
As we move into the next phase of life with the safer-at-home order we want you to know News 5 is here to help you every step of the way as we all work to rebound from this pandemic. We're all in this together and looking for new ways to get life back on track, and since rent is due Friday we wanted to look into options for people who are struggling to make ends meet.
6:10 a.m.| Colorado Springs, El Paso County officials to give update on safer-at-home phase
Local leaders are holding a press briefing this afternoon to discuss the transition to the safer-at-home phase in the Pikes Peak region. News5 will carry this on-air, online and on your streaming device at 1 p.m.
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6 a.m.| Counterfeit cash an "out of control" threat to businesses
We know local businesses are working hard to plan and rebound from the impact of coronavirus here in Colorado. News5 wants to help with that planning by providing an important warning. News5 Investigates has learned about a growing counterfeit cash problem impacting Colorado Springs businesses.
Monday, April 27, 2020
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers in Colorado
13,879 Cases
2,485 Hospitalized
56 Counties
66,341 People tested
706 Deaths
144 outbreaks at residential and non-hospital health care facilities
Find the latest information from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment here.
3:30 p.m. | White House briefing
2:35 p.m. | Gov. Polis update
We will have more interactions in May than in April while continuing to slow the spread. We have to find a more sustainable way to live, physically, psychologically, and financially. It's likely we'll be in this phase for "some time."
We now have more testing capability and Polis said he will have much more information on testing on Wed.
He said that if we as a state slack off on social distancing measures and other ways to prevent the spread of the virus, additional restrictions could come back. It is up to us to keep moving towards fewer restrictions.
Polis said this new phase will be enforced. Businesses and counties will be held accountable. Any businesses, or even counties that are opening up too soon or are not following guidelines are breaking the law. Counties could lose state grant money. Businesses could lose their state licenses.
Polis said "you, the public, are our eyes and ears" and he asked people to report unsafe situations to covid19@coag.gov
Vulnerable people cannot be forced to return to work.
For detailed information on the Safer-at-Home phase, visit the state's website: coloradosaferathome.com
2:30 p.m. | Governor Polis update on state's repsonse to COVID-19
12:55 p.m.| Colorado joins Western States Pact, pledging to follow science, not politics in fight against COVID-19
Colorado, as well as Nevada, will join California, Oregon and Washington in the Western States Pact, according to a Monday morning announcement from the Office of the Governor. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak both made the announcement Monday morning.
12:50 p.m.| Digital contact tracing could help stop the spread of COVID-19, but experts warn privacy is key
Digital contact tracing would work through your cell phone data, and officials armed with that information could then contact and contain those exposed. Many believe this is a promising new way to stop the spread of coronavirus as states like Colorado begin to reopen for business. But, using your smartphone to silently track you is viewed by others as a violation of privacy.
Digital contact tracing would work through your cell phone data, and officials armed with that information could then contact and contain those exposed. Many believe this is a promising new way to stop the spread of coronavirus as states like Colorado begin to reopen for business. But, using your smartphone to silently track you is viewed by others as a violation of privacy.
12 p.m. | Vail Resorts offering 2019-20 passholders discounts for 2020-21 season passes
12 p.m. | Vail Resorts offering 2019-20 passholders discounts for 2020-21 season passes
Vail Resorts is offering up money off a pass for next year for season passholders who had their seasons cut short this year by the COVID-19 outbreak, the company said Monday.
Vail Resorts is offering up money off a pass for next year for season passholders who had their seasons cut short this year by the COVID-19 outbreak, the company said Monday.
The company’s CEO said Monday that it would be offering at least 20% off passes for the 2020-21 season to people who had Epic Passes. If people used their pass less than five days this season, they could see higher discounts – up to 80% off next year’s pass for a person who did not use their pass once this season.
Earlier this month, Alterra Mountain Co. announced that Ikon Pass holders can get up to $200 back on a pass for next season, a payment plan with zero interest and an “Adventure Assurance” plan that offers 2020-21 passholders the option to defer that pass to 2021-22.
Click here to read the full story.
10:30 a.m.| Gov. Jared Polis to give COVID-19 update
Gov. Jared Polis is set to give an update at 2:30 p.m. today on COVID-19 in the state. News5 will be streaming this conference on our Facebook page, on air and on your favorite streaming device.
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10:15 a.m. | Colorado joins California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada in Western States Pact
California, Oregon and Washington announced the creation of the pact on April 13. The governors of the respective states have three principles they say are “foundational” to the agreement: residents’ health comes first; health outcomes and science will guide decisions; and states will only be effective working together.
The states say they hope to protect vulnerable populations and a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks at nursing homes and long-term care facilities, be sure anyone with the virus can be cared for and mitigating other effects of COVID-19 in the community as they work toward increasing testing and scaling up a contact tracing and isolation system.
“Coloradans are working together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have important information to share with and to gain from other states. I’m thrilled Colorado is joining the Western States Pact,” Polis said in a statement. “There’s no silver bullet that will solve this pandemic until there is a cure so we must have a multifaceted and bold approach in order to slow the spread of the virus, to keep our people safe and help our economy rebound.”
10:08 a.m. | San Miguel Co. continuing public health order through May 1
San Miguel County says it will continue its current public health order through May 1 and then align with the governor’s “safer at home” order starting May 2.
9:15 a.m.| Colorado Springs malls to reopen under safer-at-home order
The Chapel Hills Mall and Citadel Mall will reopen Monday under new guidelines Gov. Jared Polis has outlined in the new safer-at-home order that is now in effect, according to a press release. The malls will offer "Retail-To-Go" with new steps in place to limit the interactions between customers and employees.
5:10 a.m.| Polis issues executive order on safer-at-home phase
According to the Governor's Office, the Safer-at-Home Executive Order outlines a new level in Colorado's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes more sustainable ways of living while slowing the spread of the virus and allowing more people to return to work. The order is tentatively set to expire 30 days from April 27 but can be amended or extended at any time.
5 a.m.| Working from home: The future for many businesses
Operating under the stay-at-home order has forced many businesses to work from home. The experience may lead to some changes in how businesses proceed once the public health restrictions are lifted. News5 took a closer look at what industries may make the switch to a remote model after COVID-19.
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Click here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
People who have general questions about coronavirus disease 2019 can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 for answers in many languages. Email COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English.
People who have general questions about coronavirus disease 2019 can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 for answers in many languages. Email COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English.
