August 2020 CASES PLATEAUING Over the last couple of weeks, the number of cases statewide have plateaued due to the statewide mask mandate and the Governor’s decision to roll back bar re-openings and prohibit alcohol sales after 10 p.m. While a plateau is good news in the short term, the plateau is still at a very high level. The state is still seeing hundreds of new cases every day. Over the long term, the sheer volume of these cases continues to pose a threat to our health care system’s capacity, which means that the state remains in a precarious position. This is not the time to loosen up -- rather, it’s time to continue taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 so we can produce a downward trajectory of cases. We must keep wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, protecting our vulnerable populations, and avoiding large-scale events. AVOID LARGE-SCALE GATHERINGS Last week, the Attorney General’s office sent a cease-and-desist letter to Live Entertainment, one the promoters responsible for a large scale superspreader event in Weld County where videos showed thousands of Coloradans packed in together with no masks and no social distancing. We are starting to see new cases of COVID-19 associated with this superspreader event. And this week, we’ve seen more superspreader events, like rodeos and concerts planned for the next two weeks in Weld County. Based on previous events and the volume of confirmed attendees, hundreds, if not thousands, are planning to participate. Thus, the Attorney General’s office has proactively sent cease-and-desist orders to the organizers and promoters -- Adixion Music, as well as the venue, Imperial Horse Racing Facility in Pierce, Weld County -- to stop these illegal events to prevent further infection. Under current guidelines, an outdoor venue is permitted to host a maximum of 175 people within their usable space with a minimum of 6 feet of distance between individuals or non-household contacts. The state will use the full force of the law to protect public health. We cannot allow the irresponsible actions of a few to sacrifice thousands of Colorado lives, hundreds of thousands of Colorado jobs, and all of the progress we have made against this virus. The Governor also discouraged community members from buying tickets to or attending these events that are knowingly breaking the law; ticket holders may end up scammed out of their money when these events are shut down. It is more important than ever for everyone to have individual responsibility and keep doing their part. That means resisting the temptation to pretend that everything is back to normal, and it means promoters, organizers, and patrons must be responsible and obey the law. UNIVISION TOWN HALL Coronavirus (COVID-19) has created far-reaching economic and social impacts across Colorado and beyond. Coloradans who live daily without access to critical services and opportunities due to race and socioeconomic status are being especially hit hard and disproportionately affected. The administration is committed to doing everything we can to reach communities that are more severely impacted, and to break down barriers -- including language barriers. That’s why the Governor took part in Univision's town hall on Tuesday evening to discuss Colorado’s response to COVID-19, how to keep ourselves and each other safe, and what relief is available to individuals and small business owners in the Latinx community and other hard-hit communities. We ask that you share with Spanish-speaking community members who would benefit from this information. You can watch this historic town hall here. COVID RELIEF FUND UPDATE The Governor today thanked everyone who donated to the COVID-19 Relief Fund, and all of the organizations that have used this funding to help improve the lives of the communities struggling with this crisis. So far, the fund has raised over $22 million and distributed $16.4 million to over 700 organizations serving Coloradans in all 64 counties. Starting on Thursday of this week, the Fund will be accepting applications for a sixth round of funding. Eligible community-based organizations across Colorado may apply for a general operating grant of up to $25,000. The Fund will also accept applications from collaborative efforts that include three or more organizations to encourage community and regional coordination. Organizations focused on contact tracing, especially with a focus on cultural competency within their communities, are encouraged to apply. Organizations must apply by August 20 at 7 p.m. All information will be updated on www.helpcoloradonow.org tomorrow. Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns. So if you’re an individual, corporation, or foundation, please donate and help the Fund meet the needs of all Coloradans. And if you’re an organization that is in need of funding, please apply for funds for Round Six. COLORADO NATIONAL GUARD Today, Governor Polis thanked the brave men and women of the Colorado National Guard for their service during this pandemic, and announced that the Guard’s deployment will be extended to the end of the year. With their hard work, the Colorado National Guard has saved lives and helped us all learn how to live with the virus while we wait for a cure or a vaccine. Last week, the Colorado National Guard reached a testing milestone in support of the state’s ongoing COVID-19 testing across Colorado, testing 20,000 Coloradans at 122 testing sites in 28 counties and 34 cities. Their service will continue to be of paramount importance as we continue to confront this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit Website Office of Governor Jared Polis | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected]