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My Fellow Coloradans,
On Monday, Colorado began transitioning from the Stay-at-Home phase to the Safer at Home phase of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While this is an encouraging step forward, I want to remind people that May won’t look much different than April for us. The virus is all over and we need to wear facial masks when around others to protect ourselves and others, and continue to make our best efforts to remain at least six feet away from others. . Older Coloradans and those with underlying health conditions should continue to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. And some communities, including much of the Denver metro region, remain under a stay-at-home order for several more days and these local orders must be followed.
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 coloradosaferathome.com for more detailed information.
For now, remember to wear a facial mask when you are in public areas, maintain distancing from others, take appropriate precautions and know that you are always safest at home.
Thank you for doing your part to protect yourself, your neighbors, your loved ones, and our blessed state of Colorado.
Sincerely,
Governor Jared Polis
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Safer at Home Guidance for Individuals
For most Coloradans, this new Safer at Home phase won’t be a drastic change.
Safer at Home means most Coloradans should continue to limit social interactions to the greatest extent possible to just individuals in your household and wear a facial mask when in public.
Here are some additional guidelines. For more information visit
https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home
- Vulnerable populations and seniors must stay at home except when absolutely necessary.
- Coloradans are encouraged to wear face coverings in public at all times.
- No group gatherings over 10 people.
- Critical business remain open with strict precautions (social distancing, masks for all employees, more frequent cleanings, etc.)
- Retail businesses open for curbside delivery and phased-in public opening with strict precautions.
- Restaurants and bars remain closed except for takeout/delivery. Work towards phased reopening.
- Nightclubs, gyms and spas remain closed.
- Elective medical and dental procedures begin, with strict precautions to ensure adequate personal protective equipment and the ability to meet critical care needs.
- Personal services (salons,, dog grooming, personal training, etc) will open with strict precautions.
- K-12 schools remain closed for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Telecommuting continues for offices. Starting May 4, up to 50% of staff MAY work in person (with social distancing in place) but we encourage employers to continue to maximize telecommuting. Meaning if you can run your business with 100% telecommuting- do that!
- Limited post-secondary instruction may resume, including technical and vocational programs, that cannot be done remotely.
We have also published guidance for different businesses, establishments, and sectors of our economy, including:
Please visit https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home to read this guidance.
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Retail and Office Openings
Starting today, May 1, retail businesses and personal services like salons, dog grooming, personal training, etc. can open their doors as long as they are following strict precautions to ensure proper hygiene, proper distancing, and other measures to ensure safety of the workplace, the employees, and the customers.
On May 4, business offices can re-open up to 50% capacity, also with strict precautions in place, although we are encouraging employers to allow telecommuting to the maximum extent possible to continue to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
However, if your local jurisdiction has different orders or regulations in place -- those local orders take precedence over the state guidance, and must be followed.
For more information please visit coloradosaferathome.com.
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Employee Rights
Ensuring the safety of workers is of paramount importance as we begin to relax some of these restrictions.
Vulnerable individuals (Those over age 65 and those with underlying health conditions) can not be compelled by their employer to return to work if their work requires in-person work near others. Employers must accommodate vulnerable individuals with remote work options, if the work can be done remotely.
Employers must also make accommodations to the greatest extent possible for workers who are experiencing a lack of childcare due to school closures; such accommodations include but are not limited to remote work options and/or flexible scheduling.
If you believe your employer is violating these orders, please report it to the state using coloradolaborlaw.gov.
New federal law provides up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because of childcare needs due to a coronavirus-related closure of a school or childcare establishment.
Finally, we need you -- the public -- to be our eyes and ears. If you work for a business or patronize a business that is not complying with the health order, please report it to your local public health agency and the Colorado Attorney General’s office at [email protected]. We all need to do our part to keep ourselves and each other safe.
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Protection Against Evictions and Foreclosures
Many Coloradans have experienced substantial loss of income as a result of business closures and layoffs, hindering their ability to keep up with their rent or mortgage payments and threatening their housing security. And despite efforts at the state and federal level to provide financial relief to families, we know that these are extraordinary circumstances. We want to ensure that no one loses their home or their utility services because of a public health emergency that certainly wasn’t their fault.
Yesterday I issued an executive order continuing the ban on evictions and foreclosures for the next 30 days. Landlords and lenders are also prohibited from charging any late fees or penalties because of an inability to pay rent or mortgage payments. The courts, which are also operating in a limited way this month, are focused on the criminal processes that cannot be delayed and are not taking up civil matters like eviction until later.
Landlords must notify tenants of the new federal protections against evictions and foreclosures for each property.
And we are working with law enforcement throughout our state to prevent the enforcement of eviction or foreclosure notices.
Finally, we are working with utility companies to ensure that no one loses their power, their water, or any other utility due to these unique economic circumstances.
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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 have lost your job and as a result, have lost your health care, you can sign up for health insurance through the state of Colorado’s insurance exchange at connectforhealth.co. Please take advantage of this special enrollment period to get covered and protect yourself during this pandemic.
If you have questions about housing assistance, health care assistance, employee rights, or other state services, please call the Colorado state hotline 2-1-1 for assistance.
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Mental / Behavioral Health
Even as we transition to this new Safer at Home phase and begin to relax some restrictions, we will still be spending a lot of time apart from each other. We need to recognize the toll that this is not only taking on our economy and our way of life, but our mental and behavioral health. Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential, professional, and immediate support for any mental health, substance use, or emotional concern 24/7/365. Folks can call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional. Any Coloradan that needs support should reach out.
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Resources for you and your family
I want to remind folks about stayathomeco.colorado.gov, where the state is promoting free resources for Colorado residents during this trying time, including safety information, learning resources, and entertainment.
We want to thank SLING TV for offering Coloradans free access to preview more than 3,000 hours of premium content for free without a subscription. Once again, visit stayathomeco.colorado.gov website for more free resources to help you and your family get through this difficult time.
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Expanding Testing
In recent weeks, Colorado has successfully purchased more supplies for coronavirus testing. These supplies are not easy to come by in a competitive global marketplace, and I thank our team for working around the clock to get us the supplies we need.
The State of Colorado is also working with local public health agencies and both public and private partners to expand testing throughout the state, with a special focus on outbreak areas like Weld County and facilities serving Colorado’s seniors -- which are particularly vulnerable to an outbreak.
Testing is currently available for:
- Symptomatic healthcare and frontline workers
- Symptomatic hospital and nursing home patients
- Symptomatic workers and others in outbreak areas (i.e. JBS)
- Some symptomatic community members
- Depends on availability in your community
- And how at-risk you are: older coloradans & those with underlying health conditions.
We soon hope to be able to test ALL symptomatic community members who want it, regardless of age, health status, or community
If you feel sick with symptoms of coronavirus, please call a medical provider to see if you should get tested.
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Recreation Guidance
I want to remind Coloradans that during the Safer-at-Home phase, you should try to stay within 10 miles of your house as you enjoy our great outdoors at a safe distance from others. On top of our need to stop the spread of coronavirus, there is a significant avalanche warning in place for many mountain communities. Front Range residents should avoid traveling to the mountains for recreation until further notice.
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How to Give Back
Please visit HelpColoradoNow.org to donate to the COVID-19 Relief Fund or sign up to be a volunteer. To date, the COVID-19 Relief Fund has awarded over $8.4 million to over 300 local organizations to help meet the needs of Coloradans in communities across our state. Get involved today -- your state needs you!
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Symptom Tracker
In partnership with Google + MTX, we’ve launched a new symptom tracker to help you determine if you need to seek out a test or medical help, to guide you on next steps, and to help our epidemiologists determine if there’s an outbreak in your area and respond accordingly.
This sort of self-reporting is happening across our state and it’s helping to save lives. We have already had over 1,000 entries into the tracker that’s providing us with valuable information. The tracker consists of a short survey on covid19.colorado.gov where you submit your symptoms. You can opt into text message support which will direct you to various resources, from telemedicine to behavioral health support. We’re also collecting data from ERs on patient symptoms so we can track which communities are the most impacted.
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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.
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