COLORADO SPRINGS — Gov. Jared Polis will give an update Friday afternoon on the state's response to COVID-19.
News5 will air this press conference scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. following News5 at noon and on our social media platforms.
This conference follows the governor's conference Tuesday where a new data dashboard was unveiled and a discussion took place on the early uptick of COVID numbers that he said is in part due to colleges that have started the semester recently.
Later that day, CU Boulder students living in Boulder were strongly recommended by the health department to quarantine "immediately" in order to contain the outbreak.
The county health department said that it has seen 663 new COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks – 76% of which were either CU students or associated with CU students. The health department said “the majority” of cases came in students aged 18-29 who live off-campus and who are attending large gatherings without face coverings and proper physical distancing measures.
The students who leave their self-quarantine were asked to wear face coverings at all times.
The governor said there is now a 16% positivity rate in Boulder, akin to those seen in major outbreaks. Polis said the residents in these places need to practice more caution and avoid large gatherings. On the other hand, Polis praised students at CU Boulder who have done their part and are "rising to the occasion" by testing, wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
"By stepping up, you're doing your part," Polis said in reference to protecting the community and getting tested, especially in Adams and Boulder counties. P
Prior to the conference Friday, Polis visited organizations supported by the COVID-19 Relief Fund in Longmont and Lafayette. He also visited small businesses in Boulder, Broomfield and Westminster.
The focus was on small businesses with resources offered by the state and the economic state of Colorado. Betsy Markey, executive director at the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced the move of a business into Boulder that will open up hundreds of manufacturing jobs.
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