September 2021 QUICK COVID RESOURCES COVID19.COLORADO.GOV COVID TESTING FIND A VACCINE PROVIDER CO EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS GOVERNOR POLIS PROVIDES UPDATE ON COVID-19 BOOSTERS & STATE TESTING CAPACITY Today, Governor Polis provided an update on Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an overview of the state’s plan to administer booster shots, and detailed Colorado's COVID-19 testing efforts. Governor Polis was joined by Dr. Emily Travanty, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Laboratory Services Division, CDPHE. “Colorado has one of the lowest COVID-19 case rates in the country, and our case numbers are moving in the right direction with a slight downward trend and that is a result of the work of Coloradans,” said Governor Polis. “This remains a pandemic of the unvaccinated and that threatens our freedom - your freedom to receive routine or lifesaving medical care like cancer treatment. Until more unvaccinated people do the right thing to protect themselves and our economy - Coloradans should wear masks, get the booster, and get tested if you have symptoms.” Governor Polis also provided an update on the wildfire situation near Silverthorne. As of now, the fire has grown to 60 acres and additional mandatory evacuations have been ordered. An evacuation shelter is in place at Summit Middle School. More information regarding the shelter can be found at summitcountyco.gov. Additionally, Colorado DFPC multi-mission Aircraft flew over the fire overnight, confirming that no homes have been destroyed. To receive alerts on the fire, individuals can sign up for county emergency alerts at dhsem.colorado.gov/emergencyalert. Governor Polis updated Coloradans on the rollout of Pfizer booster COVID-19 shots for those who are eligible and previously received a Pfizer shot. Per CDC recommendations, those aged 65 and older, and adults 50-64 years old with an underlying medical condition are eligible to receive a third dose. Additionally, the CDC has authorized the Pfizer booster for those aged 18 and older who live in long-term care facilities, those 18-49 with underlying medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or Down syndrome, among other conditions. Those aged 18 to 64 who work in high-risk settings including correctional facilities, health care, grocery stores, among other settings, are also eligible for a Pfizer booster. Overall, Coloradans who were vaccinated as part of Phase 1B and earlier with the Pfizer shot are eligible for their Pfizer booster, which is still free and requires no ID or insurance to receive. Governor Polis continues to encourage the CDC to authorize a booster shot for all Coloradans who have already received a shot and to approve both a Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shot. Dr. Emily Travanty, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Laboratory Services Division, CDPHE, provided an overview of Colorado’s nation-leading COVID-19 testing program. Colorado’s state laboratory has significantly scaled its capacity to process COVID tests, with an average processing capacity of 39,000 tests per day, up from 160 tests per day at the beginning of the pandemic. Colorado can offer free testing to anyone at over 110 testing sites across the state. On average, Colorado is averaging 39,415 tests per day across these sites. “Testing overall is an important tool. We are proud to offer free community testing, testing in schools, and at-home rapid testing to Coloradans. Each program adds a layer of protection in our communities to identify cases quickly and stop them from spreading,” said Dr. Travanty. “We thank the schools who have signed up and are actively testing students and staff, and we encourage even more schools, parents, and districts to sign up for this free program. At-home testing demand currently exceeds supply and school testing has more supply than demand. We want to encourage people to access community testing and not wait for those at-home tests.” Governor Polis continued to urge Coloradans who are experiencing symptoms to visit a free, community testing site. Locations can be found at: covid19.colorado.gov/testing. Per Governor Polis’ urging, the State Board of Health requires the vaccine for Colorado health care workers to protect the state’s most vulnerable populations receiving care in health care facilities. As of today, more than 1,100 health care workers are vaccinated. Health care workers that fall under the mandate have until the end of October to become fully vaccinated. VIEW TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE WORKPLACE VACCINATION PROGRAM Getting the vaccine should be as easy as showing up for work. That's why Colorado offers a workplace vaccination program, which gives employers, unions, and trade associations of any size to provide their workers more opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a familiar and convenient location. And this is a great way for Colorado employers to help Power the Comeback. To date, over 160 clinics have been hosted with more than 2,400 workers reached through the program! Employers can join hundreds of other organizations small and large that are doing their part by filling out the Google form linked below to request a free, on-site vaccination event. ENROLL IN WORKPLACE VACCINATION PROGRAM All staffing, logistics, and vaccine supplies will be coordinated and provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. FREE COVID-19 TESTING SITES If you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19 and want to get tested, Colorado sponsors more than 80 free community testing sites throughout the state. These sites do not require identification, insurance, or a doctor’s note. Click the button below for a map of free community testing sites and view the list here. VIEW MAP OF FREE TESTING SITES MOBILE VACCINATION CLINICS Offering both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, these mobile clinics are for everyone 12 years and older! Click the button below for the full list of mobile vaccination site stops. VIEW MOBILE VACCINATION SITE STOPS LEARN ABOUT VACCINE INCENTIVES "POWER THE COMEBACK" BUSINESS PLEDGE From the beginning of this pandemic, we’ve been making decisions based on saving lives and livelihoods. And we know that the good times come back when we all do our part to power the Colorado Comeback for ourselves, our families, businesses, and students by supporting the decision to get vaccinated. Business owners and employees have been innovative and nimble in the face of this crisis. There are incredible stories of resilience, and that is in no small part due to so many Coloradans getting the vaccine, who can now do the things they love and give our economy a much-needed boost in the process.  That’s why the State launched a new business tool as part of our "Power the Comeback" campaign, which will encourage businesses to do their part by encouraging employees to get vaccinated and by promoting policies that create COVID-safe workplaces. Here are some of the ways we are asking Colorado businesses to help public-facing workers understand the benefits of getting vaccinated and understand the support their employers can provide: Host a vaccine clinic for employees. Promote information about the Colorado law that mandates paid time off to get the vaccine and recover from vaccine side effects. Provide incentives for employees to get vaccinated (e.g., cash bonuses, additional paid time off, etc.). Share information about nearby vaccination clinics with employees and customers. Commit to posting ample signage about safe COVID-19 behaviors, mask rules for those who are unvaccinated, employee rights, and quarantining rules if exposed to COVID-19. Have a policy in place that encourages any individual aged 12 and older, who is not fully vaccinated, to continue wearing a mask inside your workplace. A toolkit that includes posters, graphics and other materials for use will be available once your pledge is received. TAKE THE PLEDGE! The State of Colorado has been ahead of the curve in getting our workforce protected against this virus. All regular employees in Colorado receive four hours of paid time off (PTO) to use for vaccine appointments and to recover from vaccine side effects. If you’re a regular employee and find this is not the case in your workplace, call the Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics at (303) 318-8441 to ask questions or voice a complaint. Now, getting to your appointment or a walk-in site is easier than ever. Click above, call 211, or text your zip code to 898-211 for access to free rides (up to 25 miles each way) to vaccination sites across Colorado through Mile High United Way’s “Ride United” program. ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit Website Office of Governor Jared Polis | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]