September 2020

BRONCOS TO HOST LIMITED FANS

Colorado is seeing encouraging signs that our management and prevention methods are working. Our positivity rate remains low and we are faring much better than many of our neighboring states, but we have to remain vigilant.

This is a reflection of everyone doing their part: businesses reopening in a safe and responsible way, individuals practicing good social distancing habits and continuing to wear masks, and our state and local governments giving it their all to end this crisis in a careful, methodical way.

As Governor Polis has routinely emphasized, this virus is not going away any time soon, and it will take all of our creative efforts to yield new ways to live with it.

That’s why today, the Governor was pleased to announce with Denver Broncos’ Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Brittany Bowlen, that a limited number of fans will be allowed to watch home games at Empower Field at Mile High -- starting with the Broncos vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 27. The Broncos organization worked in collaboration with the state of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to determine a figure of 7.5% of the stadium’s capacity, which leaves room for future growth.

Empower Field at Mile High will look and feel very different this year. The State was able to take this step in no small part due to the commitment and dedication of the Broncos to go above and beyond in creating an experience for fans that is as safe as possible.

Capacity at the stadium will initially be limited to about 7.5% of the stadium capacity or approximately 5,700 fans. Due to its very large size, the stadium is set up for a series of outdoor events, all following the state’s outdoor event guidance. The State and the Broncos organization will continue working together to ensure the safety of fans and players is protected and we will together re-evaluate increasing fan attendance for future home games.

Every fan entering the stadium will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing, as they would in any other public place. Any fan who does not comply with mask-wearing guidelines or social distancing requirements will be required to leave the stadium. Tailgating is not permitted in parking lots, and congregating is prohibited in concourses or the stadium bowl.

The franchise will assign entry gates based on seat location and Broncos fans are being asked to take additional time into account in order to abide by social distancing requirements during the security process.

Fans should stay home if they are sick, showing any COVID-19 symptoms or if they have come in close contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19. Please visit one of the state’s free, quick and easy community testing sites to get tested for COVID-19.

Broncos staff at Empower Field at Mile High will be required to follow several key safety measures in order to protect themselves and fans, including:

Routine health screenings and temperature checks;
Wearing PPE at all times;
And participation in COVID-19 training.

Governor Polis and the administration applaud the collaborative efforts of Brittany Bowlen, who has been a key leader bringing communities of fans back together, and we are grateful to the entire Broncos organization for being such thoughtful, flexible partners.

The Broncos received this approval from CDPHE, per the public health order requiring professional sports organizations to submit plans to host spectators for approval by the state. Other venues interested in taking a similar approach must apply for a variance in conjunction with their local health department.

COVID-19 EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS

By putting strong measures in place to identify possible COVID-19 cases early, we can limit the spread of the virus quickly and effectively, and get back to safely enjoying the activities we love.

Today, Governor Polis and Sarah Tuneberg, Senior COVID-19 Advisory and Innovation Response Team Leader, announced a crucial partnership between the state of Colorado, Google and Apple that will leverage cutting-edge technology to help us slow the spread of COVID-19. This month, Coloradans can opt into the new Exposure Notifications (EN) service on their phone. This mobile service will allow people to know if they might have been exposed to the virus without compromising their privacy or data. And it’s entirely optional, with privacy and security core to the design of this service.

The service will be offered to both iOS and Android users in Colorado. If someone opts in, they can be notified of their exposure to the virus from another person who is also using the service. The technology does not track your location, and does not share your identity with Google, Apple, other users, or the State. What the service does do is give you an early heads up if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, and provides everyone with the individual choice to use the service.

Colorado will be one of the first states in the nation to deploy this technology. Our objective is to use every tool in our toolbox to contain this virus and limit community spread and this service is yet another life saving tool in our arsenal. While again, this service is completely optional, the Governor hopes that many Coloradans choose to use it, because it works best when more people opt-in.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions here.

HEALTH CARE TRAINING PARTNERSHIP

The State of Colorado, Trailhead Institute, Colorado Public Health Workforce Collaborative, and the Colorado Community College System will be partnering to train thousands of new healthcare apprentices as contact tracers, case investigators, and resources coordinators to aid our COVID-19 containment efforts. Additionally, the large-scale training program will prepare participating workers for long-term careers in the healthcare industry. Using a portion of a federal grant, the programs will be developed by Arapahoe Community College and the Community College of Denver.

Building a robust epidemiology workforce is critical to our efforts to safely reopen businesses, schools and other public spaces, so we are very pleased by this partnership.

PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS

Three counties have qualified and were approved to move into the Protect Our Neighbors phase, effective today: Mesa, Gilpin, and Rio Blanco.

When a county receives a Protect Our Neighbors certification, it means that they have achieved region-wide increased flexibility -- and increased responsibility -- for containing the virus. The administration wishes these three counties success, and the great hope is that we continue this positive trend, so that all 64 counties in our state will be able to join them.

These are all very exciting announcements and if we continue to work together and make significant progress in our virus containment efforts, we can slowly lift certain restrictions.

This means we need to continue:

Wearing masks;
Practicing social distancing;
Washing hands often;
Adhering to safety guidelines -- especially businesses, so we can begin to reopen;
And boosting our health care capacity at the state and local government levels, so we can once again enjoy everything that makes Colorado the best place to live.

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