Coronavirus in Colorado
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the highly infectious new coronavirus, and has urged all Coloradans to prepare themselves for at least some disruptions to daily life. Here is an updated list of information to help you do just that.
TAP A BUTTON TO JUMP
The Colorado Sun has no paywall, meaning readers do not have to pay to access stories. We believe vital information needs to be seen by the people impacted, whether it’s a public health crisis, investigative reporting or keeping lawmakers accountable.
This reporting depends on support from readers like you. For just $5/month, you can invest in an informed community. >> JOIN RIGHT NOW
MAP: COVID-19 cases in Colorado back^
MORE: Maps and graphics tracking coronavirus around the world.
TESTING back^
- CAPACITY: CDPHE, hospitals, clinics and private labs have greatly expanded testing capacity, now often running in excess of 5,000 tests per day. In many locations, people no longer need a doctor’s note to get tested. CDPHE provides updated information on testing on its website. >> LINK
- LOCATIONS: There are now at least 100 places across Colorado where you can get a test for COVID-19. In many cases, your primary care doctor or medical provider will be your first point of contact in seeking a test. But CDPHE has also assembled a map of community-based testing sites, many of which do not require a doctor’s note, though they may require pre-registration or an appointment. >> LINK
OFFICIAL ORDERS back^
Now that an emergency has been declared, Gov. Polis has broad powers to shape daily life in Colorado. But, so far, he has used that authority in more nuanced ways, by issuing some executive orders, but also by issuing non-binding guidance and letting state agencies set emergency rules. Here’s a rundown:
- An order declaring a disaster emergency. >> LINK
- A public health order limiting visitation at nursing homes. >> LINK
- An order closing ski resorts. >> LINK
- An order closing bars, restaurants, gyms, casinos, theaters, spas, salons and tattoo parlors statewide until the end of April. >> LINK
- An order suspending elective and non-essential surgeries at hospitals, dentist offices and veterinary practices. >> LINK
- A request to landlords and property managers to forego evictions and late payment penalties, as the state convenes a panel to address business issues. >> LINK
- An order suspending in-person instruction at Colorado K-12 schools between March 23 and April 17. >> LINK
- A rule telling insurance companies not to charge copays or deductibles for medical care related to testing for COVID-19. >> LINK
- A rule creating a special open-enrollment period related to COVID-19 so people can buy health insurance. >> LINK
- A rule allowing people age 65 and older to renew their driver’s license without going into a DMV location. >> LINK
- A rule requiring employers in certain industries to provide paid sick leave to workers during the period they are receiving testing for COVID-19. >> LINK
- A rule allowing state employees to work from home and providing other protections. >> LINK
- Guidance for schools and child care centers about when to close because of COVID-19. >> LINK
- Guidance for the cancellation of public gatherings. >> LINK
RESOURCES back^
- NUMBERS: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is updating its case tallies for the state once a day, as well as providing other information. >> LINK
- PREPARATION: CDPHE is maintaining a list of links to government websites with advice on how prepare for COVID-19 or the disruptions to our communities that may come from it. Start preparing now. >> LINK
- PREVENTION: Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more tips to keep from getting sick, including avoiding close contact and crowded gatherings. >> LINK
- SONGS TO WASH BY: Twenty seconds — the amount of time recommended you should spend washing your hands each time — is surprisingly long, about what it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. The Los Angeles Times put together a list of other songs you can sing that are a little catchier. >> LINK
- SYMPTOMS: Many of the symptoms of COVID-19 appear — at least initially — similar to those of the common cold: Fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. They appear two to 14 days after exposure. The CDC has more. >> LINK
- WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SICK: If you feel yourself coming down with something, DO NOT race to the hospital or emergency room — unless you are in dire and immediate need of medical attention. Stay home from work or school and isolate yourself. Practice good hygiene, such as covering sneezes and coughs with a tissue and then throwing the tissue away immediately in a trashcan with a liner. Call your doctor, a hospital or a community health center for guidance on what to do next.
- COVID-19 or ALLERGIES?: ‘Tis the season to feel a little off — the time when the tail-end of flu season mingles with the beginning of allergy season. The Washington Post has a helpful story on how to differentiate between allergies and COVID-19. The D.C. area is ahead of Colorado when it comes to the start of allergy season, but this will be handy as the weather warms in Colorado. Again, though, stay home and call your doctor if you have any doubts about your symptoms. >> LINK
- OTHER QUESTIONS: CDPHE has established a COVID-19 hotline, CO-HELP. Call them at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911. Information is available in multiple languages. You can also email questions, for answers in English only, to COHELP@RMPDC.org.
- TRAVEL: The CDC is providing guidance on general travel plans and whether you should cancel them. >> LINK
- INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: Check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory page for up-to-date guidance on traveling to your specific destination. A number of countries now have COVID-19-related advisories. >> LINK
HOW TO HELP back^
- HELP FROM HOME: We’ve rounded up ways you can make a difference in your community, even while you’re stuck at home. >> LINK
- SUPPORT ESSENTIAL LOCAL JOURNALISM: Become a member of The Colorado Sun to help support our team’s in-depth coverage of this crisis — for about the price of a fast-food burger. Click here to join.
- ALREADY A SUN MEMBER? There are a few ways to make your support go further:
- Share this page on social media: coloradosun.com/coronavirus
- Encourage people to sign up for a Sun newsletter so they don’t miss a thing: coloradosun.com/newsletters
- Upgrade your membership. Instructions here.
LATEST NEWS back^
- Wave of suicides in northwest Colorado part of “toxic stress” from coronavirus, experts say
- Colorado’s coronavirus surge isn’t limited to college students, is similar to spike after July 4
- Colorado state workers ordered to take unpaid furlough amid state budget shortfall
- Colorado coronavirus cases reach highest levels since end of July
- Coronavirus “long haulers” in Colorado suffer symptoms weeks, months later
- Will the University of Colorado’s two-week coronavirus pause be enough to turn the corner?
- Unemployed and nearly homeless, jobless Coloradans whose benefits are on hold are crying for help
- Coloradans rejected from $300 Lost Wages unemployment program over the weekend may be eligible after all
- CU Boulder switches to remote learning for at least two weeks amid coronavirus surge
- Colorado school districts have to track attendance this year. Here’s what you need to know.
- Doctors are overwhelmed by coronavirus. So why did Colorado officials just end a 30-year contract with a peer health program?
- Colorado is still seeing a sharp drop in the number of kids being vaccinated amid coronavirus
- Governor says sending University of Colorado students home isn’t a safe option
- Colorado’s unemployment rate fell again in August, but there’s a growing number of underemployed people
- A Colorado school is taking coronavirus testing beyond its students and teachers
- Workers protest $15,615 federal fine for JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley where coronavirus killed six
- Colorado governor, CHSAA sign off on high school football, field hockey in fall
- $300 unemployment bonus runs into technical snags in Colorado after people overwhelm request system
- Coronavirus has masked Colorado students’ emotions. Teachers are trying new ways to connect.
- For Colorado’s rural seniors, coronavirus strains access to home-based care — just as it’s needed most
- Health care, the environment, coronavirus: How the pandemic has become a top election-year issue in Colorado
- Colorado health officials sound alarm about “very substantial increases” in coronavirus cases among college-age population
- COVID exodus fills vacation towns, including Colorado’s high-country destinations, with new medical pressures
- Colorado families are leaving $58 million in federal food aid on the table. Time is running out to apply.
- Another effort to recall Gov. Jared Polis — this time over his coronavirus response — may begin collecting signatures
- A huge number of Coloradans already say they won’t get a coronavirus vaccine. Will politics make it worse?
- Poverty, hunger, lost learning all hit children hard. Colorado needs to protect them from COVID fallout, advocates say.
- Federal court orders Postal Service to stop sending Coloradans flyer containing incorrect mail-in voting information
- What’s Working: Extra $300 unemployment benefit gets a start date and how Colorado overpaid $40 million in jobless aid
- Lack of child care prevents moms from getting drug treatment in Colorado. Here comes “RV Honey.”
- Colorado stops nearly $1 billion in unemployment benefits from being paid to scammers
- Gov. Jared Polis launches $32.7 million fund to incubate ideas to improve student learning during coronavirus
- Downtown Denver’s hotel industry is struggling. Is it because people don’t want to be in the city center?
- Coronavirus has caused significant mental health strain in Colorado — for some more than others
- Colorado partners with Apple, Google to allow for coronavirus exposure notification on cellphones
- Broncos fans can attend games at Mile High Stadium starting Sept. 27. Here’s how it will work.
- At first, Colorado didn’t have enough coronavirus tests. Now, it’s asking more people to get tested.
- Coronavirus finance issues may force Colorado nursing home closure
- Here’s the latest look at which Colorado businesses received Paycheck Protection Program loans — and how much they got
- How Colorado’s independent Wolf Creek ski area plans to navigate a coronavirus reopening
- Can government investment in the arts help lift Colorado, the U.S. out of the economy’s coronavirus slump?
- What’s Working: The situation with PUA benefits. Plus, why action is needed to get extra payments.
- Here’s how Colorado’s October student count will change to preserve school-district funding
- Six months after Colorado’s first coronavirus case, here’s how we compare to other states
- Colorado’s coronavirus cases are back under control, but could Labor Day and school reopenings cause a new spike?
- Colorado pours $2M into internet access for families while partnering with providers like T-Mobile to expand broadband
- Drilling, mines and other projects hastened by Trump’s coronavirus order
- “COVID is still affecting everything”: Fears still mounting over a forthcoming Colorado eviction surge
- CDC directs halt to most evictions through 2020 to prevent more coronavirus spread
- Colorado College suspends most in-person learning after coronavirus prompts three dorm quarantines
- Colorado attorney general asks for federal investigation into Frontier Airlines’ coronavirus flight-change policies
- Figuring out school buses is just as complicated as reopening Colorado classrooms
- How coronavirus and drought have combined to affect Colorado’s limited water supply
- Officials predict Front Range passenger rail in Colorado would have 3 million riders annually
- Drive-in theaters in Colorado and beyond are seeing increased traffic with big-name concerts, events
- Months before its arrival, Colorado tries to answer the question: Who should get the coronavirus vaccine first?
- Downtown Denver is starving for people. When will they come back?
- All three Colorado College dorms quarantined after 10 students test positive for coronavirus in past week
- Opinion: How to use ventilation and air filtration to prevent the spread of coronavirus indoors
- Colorado lists 20 coronavirus cases tied to Sturgis motorcycle rally
- Patrick Neville, Michelle Malkin file lawsuit challenging Colorado’s mask-wearing mandate. It likely faces a steep hill.
- Colorado will begin accepting applications to fund for small businesses affected by coronavirus
- With big sports back, Colorado’s betting scene exploded with $59 million in pent-up wagers
- Why Colorado’s housing market looks so hot even though coronavirus is ravaging the economy
- Colorado to begin allowing indoor visitation at nursing homes as soon as next week
- Thousands of kids in Colorado’s largest school districts didn’t show up for spring remote learning. The race is on to find them.
- Colorado officials reach settlement over prison inmates vulnerable to coronavirus
- Trump’s ban on visa workers breathes new life into college-age ski bumming in Colorado’s resort towns
- Is your throat scratchy from Colorado’s wildfire smoke or coronavirus? Here’s how to tell.
- Here’s how Colorado schools are tackling outdoor learning during the pandemic
- A governor eager to reopen, COVID cases declining — and half of Colorado students are online. What happened?
- What’s Working: Why it takes two months to get a callback on unemployment: 25% of scheduled calls are “no shows”
- Colorado governor lets bars, restaurants serve alcohol until 11 p.m., but continues last-call limit for 30 more days
- Colorado’s unemployment rate improves to 7.4% as more people return to work after coronavirus cuts
- Coronavirus moved some substance treatment services online in Colorado — possibly permanently
- With Colorado schools resuming classes amid coronavirus, the outdoors provides a safe place to learn
- Hispanic, Black Coloradans have been disproportionately hospitalized because of coronavirus
- With classes set to start online next week, Denver schools are short thousands of computers
- Colorado governor bans campfires, fireworks for 30 days to prevent new wildfires
- Colorado joins multi-state lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service
- A late surge in demand overwhelms Colorado’s state-sponsored online school
- No mess-tent meals, no giant camps: This is wildfire fighting in Colorado during coronavirus
- Denver doctors may have found the answer to a pandemic mystery: What happened to all the heart attacks?
- As Colorado College students arrived on campus, one tested positive for coronavirus. Now, an entire dorm is quarantined.
- Coronavirus killed 59,179 arts jobs in Colorado and crippled key economic and cultural engines. Can they be revived?
- Colorado’s mask mandate extended into mid September
- Here’s what 10 Colorado students say adults should know as the fall semester approaches
- Colorado to extend state benefits to the unemployed for 13 more weeks
- Aurora school board struggling with who will decide when it’s safe to start in-person learning, and how
- New Colorado quarantine guidance would allow more students to stay in school
- Colorado’s final count: 109,170 businesses approved for $10.4 billion in federal coronavirus loans
- Colorado students are improving in literacy — possibly to the detriment of their math skills. That’s bad for the economy.
- Coronavirus has led to a boom in single-use plastics. NREL is launching a new effort to upcycle them.
- A Colorado county asked residents to share their coronavirus stimulus money. The response was overwhelming.
- Homelessness in Denver is obvious, but the never-ending work to solve it is harder to see
- 5 new insights into Gov. Jared Polis’ coronavirus response and how COVID-19 is affecting Colorado
- Colorado students may shuffle school districts during coronavirus, leaving a financial mess in their wake
- Colorado’s struggle to improve school vaccination rates shows the challenges ahead for a coronavirus vaccine
- Trump’s order to extend unemployment benefits could cost Colorado $31.1 million a week — money it doesn’t have
- Namaste Noir: A Colorado yoga co-op seeks to diversify, heal racialized trauma