My Fellow Coloradans,

This week, after 32 long days and nights, Colorado’s statewide Stay-at-Home order has been lifted. 
 
As much as we all would like things to go back to the way they were, our reality is that life is going to look different for quite some time. Restrictions will need to remain in place in order to continue to protect our health. And some communities , including much of the Denver metro region, remain under a stay-at-home order and these local orders must be followed.
 
But because we have used the Stay-at-Home order to successfully reduce the rate of infection, and used the time to build more hospital capacity and acquire more masks, gloves, gowns, ventilators and testing supplies, we can now move into a new phase called “Safer at Home” at the state level that is a more sustainable way of life for the month of May and very likely beyond.
 
I know you likely have many questions about what this new phase will look like. We will provide some guidance in this newsletter, and I invite you to visit https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home for more detailed information.
 
For now, remember to wear a facial mask when you are in public areas and know that you are always safest at home.
 
For the vast majority of us, this new phase won’t look much different than the last. This new Safer at Home phase is meant to establish a level of social distancing that can be sustained for a longer period of time. It will allow us to gradually relax some of these restrictions on our economy and our society while protecting our health care system and our most vulnerable residents.
 
We can’t go back to the way things were in January or February of this year. The brutal, honest truth is that we will likely need to maintain some level of distancing in our society until there’s a cure or a vaccine for COVID-19. That could take months, even years. And if we relax restrictions too quickly, we will lose the progress we have made, and we may overwhelm our hospital system, causing hundreds, if not thousands, of unnecessary deaths.
 
On the other hand, we simply can’t stay cooped up inside for months and months -- it’s not sustainable for our economy, our society, or our overall physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Living in a black and white world of shutdowns and openings might be simpler to think about, but the reality is that we will be living in a world of gray for the coming months as we seek to balance our health with our economic and psychological needs. We must seek to live not with anxiety, not with fear, but with justified caution. 

I have faith in the data, the science, and the people of Colorado that we can be successful in this new phase.

Coloradans did a great job of staying at home the past month -- we wouldn’t be able to lift the Stay-at-Home order if folks weren’t taking this seriously. I thank everyone who has been doing their part to slow the spread of the virus and protect their fellow Coloradans.

We all need to continue to do our part. If we don’t -- areas of our state with high infection rates are likely to go back to a Stay-at-Home order. Nobody wants that.

So keep up the good work, Colorado. Keep doing right by each other. And let’s keep our heads up. We’re going to get through this together.

Sincerely,



Governor Jared Polis 

State Services for Impacted Individuals

If you have lost wages or been laid off due to COVID-19, please visit coloradoui.gov to determine your eligibility for unemployment insurance and apply for benefits. This includes those working as independent contractors or working in the “gig economy” who have lost wages due to COVID-19.

If you do not have health care, or have lost your health care due to COVID-19, you can sign up for health insurance through the state of Colorado’s insurance exchange at connectforhealth.co up until Thursday, April 30. Please take advantage of this special enrollment period to get covered.

Best Practices

The best thing you can do right now is encourage your family and friends to stay home. This will help reduce the spread. Also, practice good hygiene and social distancing in order to keep yourself and others safe -- especially vulnerable populations like older Coloradans and those with underlying health conditions:

• Stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave your home.
• If you do have to leave your home, wear a cloth face covering or a mask.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. 
• If someone at your home is sick, avoid sharing dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home. After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water.