Colorado Governor Jared Polis addresses the state on Monday, April 6, 2020.
Governor Jared Polis says he is extending the COVID-19 stay-at-home order for the state of Colorado until April 26, 2020.
"The reason for the April 26th date is simple," the governor said in a statewide address. "The data and the science tell us that staying at home is our best chance, our only realistic chance, to avoid a catastrophic loss of life, the death of thousands of our friends, our neighbors, our family members."
He added that ending the stay-at-home order on April 26th is a goal.
"If there's any way to safely end it sooner, I will. And likewise, if Coloradoans aren't staying at home and the numbers of dead and dying continue to pile up, [it] could go longer."
He said we are fighting "a virus that is both deadly and extremely contagious."
"The fewer social interactions we have with one another, the fewer opportunities there are for people to spread the virus to others and the fewer infections we'll have in our state," Gov. Polis said.
By extending the stay-at-home order, the governor is hoping to give the healthcare system more time to prepare for what could be an increase in patients who need care due to COVID-19.
"If too many people get seriously ill all at once, our healthcare system simply won't have the capacity to handle of of those sick patients."
The governor said the bottom line is too stark to ignore.
"I know we all want this to end as soon as possible. But if the choice is between a temporary shutdown and a catastrophic loss of life, the choice is clear. These closures and restrictions will be temporary. But when you lose a life, you lose it forever."
Also on Monday, Mayor Michael Hancock extended the stay-at-home order for the city and county of Denver until April 30.
Details on that story are HERE.
Monday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment held a teleconference on the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado.
That information and full audio are HERE.
Full remarks from Gov. Polis are below.
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From the Governor's office:
Gov. Polis Addresses Coloradans, Extends Stay-at-Home Order
DENVER — This evening Governor Jared Polis addressed Coloradans directly and announced an extension to the stay-at-home Executive Order. The Executive Order will now remain in effect until April 26.
“We are beginning to see the impact of the actions we have taken so far, but I can’t stress enough the importance of staying home during these next few weeks,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We have to keep this up for a little while longer in order to return to a level of normalcy in our economy and our society. Right now we need to dig deep into our souls to muster the resolve, the courage, the fortitude to carry on and do our patriotic duty as generations have done before.”
Colorado is beginning to see the impacts of the social distancing measures that have been implemented in recent weeks. The state has seen a 60% reduction in traffic on Colorado roads since the beginning of March and is beginning to see the effects of the stay at home Executive Order. When this virus began, the number of cases was doubling every 1.5 days, now it’s doubling every six days, meaning the spread of the virus is beginning to slow.
View the Governor’s address here. Read the Executive Order here. Read the text of the Governor’s address as prepared for delivery here.
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Gobernador Polis se dirige a los habitantes de Colorado y extiende la Orden de quedarse en casa
DENVER: Esta noche Gobernador Jared Polis se dirigió directamente a los habitantes de Colorado y anunció la extensión de la Orden ejecutiva de quedarse en casa. La Orden ejecutiva ahora permanecerá vigente hasta el 26 de abril.
“Estamos empezando a observar los resultados de las medidas que hemos tomado hasta el momento, pero no puedo enfatizar lo suficiente la importancia de quedarse en casa durante las próximas semanas”, indicó Gobernador Jared Polis. “Debemos continuar esto durante un poco más de tiempo para volver a un nivel de normalidad en nuestra economía y nuestra sociedad. En este momento, tenemos que buscar profundamente en nuestras almas para encontrar la resolución, el valor y la fuerza para seguir adelante y realizar nuestro deber patriótico como lo han hecho las generaciones anteriores”.
Colorado está empezando a observar los efectos positivos de las medidas de distanciamiento social que se han implementado en las semanas recientes. El estado ha observado una reducción de un 60% de tráfico en las calles de Colorado desde el inicio de marzo y está empezando a observar los efectos positivos de la Orden ejecutiva de quedarse en casa. Cuando se inició el virus, el número de casos se estaba duplicando cada día y medio, ahora se está duplicando cada seis días, lo que significa que el virus se está empezando a desacelerar.
Puede ver la conferencia de Gobernador Polis aquí. Puede leer la Orden ejecutiva aquí.