NOTE: This is the live blog from Monday, May 4. Click here for the live blog for Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
Keep your mask handy, Denver. According to a public health order issued by Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock on Friday, all Denver residents will be required to wear a face mask in certain public settings beginning Wednesday.
“When we’re at the grocery store, work or any other business, my face covering protects you and your face covering protects me,” Hancock said in a news release. “The virus isn’t going away any time soon. By wearing a face covering, you're doing your part to reduce the spread of infections and keep everyone safer.”
Click hereto read more about this new order, plus the order itself.
READ MORE: List of Colorado businesses that are open
Click here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Below, we're updating this blog with the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Colorado.
Latest updates:
Monday, May 4
9:36 p.m. | Colorado Hospital Associations: Don't neglect seeking needed health care
The Colorado Hospital Association is reminding Coloradans that hospital emergency departments are safe places in which to receive care during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado, emergency departments throughout the state have reported a decline in the number of people seeking treatment for those conditions (heart attacks, strokes, large wounds or abdominal emergencies)," officials said in a news release.
8:16 p.m. | King Soopers offers free COVID-19 testing for frontline workers, expands hours
King Soopers will provide free COVID-19 testing to frontline workers, officials said in a news release Monday evening. The tests will be based on symptoms and medical need and will be a combination of self-administered kits and the company's public drive-thru testing sites.
The company also said it will be returning to its regular operating hours, with most stores opening at 5 a.m. and closing at midnight. The company did not say when the change in hours of operation would take effect.
7:41 p.m. | Polis signs executive order
Gov. Jared Polis has signed an executive order that continues the extension for filing and remitting state and state-administered local sales tax until May, 20, 2020.
The executive order is an extension of Executive Order D 2020 023.
6:30 p.m. | Denver Police: Stay home and avoid social gatherings during Cinco de Mayo
The Denver Police Department is once again reminding residents that the city is still under a stay-at-home order and is encouraging people to follow the public health order and avoid large social gatherings during the Cinco de Mayo holiday in Denver.
There are no planned Cinco de Mayo events this year at Civic Center Park due to COVID-19, but the police department is advising against the traditional gatherings on Federal Boulevard around the Cinco de Mayo holiday by reminding the public that non-essential travel is prohibited at this time.
DPD said it will closely monitor traffic congestion, and if traffic volume builds to a point where health and safety are compromised, a plan to divert traffic off Federal Boulevard will be implemented by the police department.
5:15 p.m. | Colorado Department of Education graduation ceremony guidance
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE), along with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), has released guidance for communities considering how to honor their graduating high school seniors during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I understand how incredibly disappointing it is to students, teachers and families to miss out on milestones like graduation ceremonies,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes. “Unfortunately, traditional graduation ceremonies will not be safe for some time, but thanks to the creativity and ingenuity of our teachers, parents and school leaders, we are seeing some really thoughtful and meaningful alternative celebrations around the state."
To view the extensive list of guidance, click here.
5:02 p.m. | Jefferson County receives $101.7 million in CARES Act funding
Jefferson County says it has received $101.7 million in federal relief funds to cover expenses related to the novel coronavirus. The county applied for the funds that are available from the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
4:46 p.m. | Boulder County will expire stay-at-home order on Friday
Boulder Public Health officials say they're also moving into a safer at home phase starting Saturday. A news release will be made available with details on Tuesday.
4:43 p.m. | Jefferson County to move to a safer at home phase after May 8
Jefferson County Public Health officials are following Pitkin County's lead and will expire their stay-at-home order on May 8, to move into a safer at home phase starting Saturday, May 9. No other details were immediately available about their road map to reopening the county.
4:39 p.m. | Pitkin County to enact safer at home phase starting Saturday
Pitkin County Public Health officials say the county will begin its transition into a safer at home phase on Saturday, May 9. Officials said a road map is being developed to help with the transition and will be presented later this week. Officials stressed that citizens of the county should continue to follow the stay-at-home order mandates until Friday night.
4:32 p.m. | Adams County to discuss reopening the county Tuesday
Adams County will hold a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. to inform residents on reopening efforts in the county, moving to the statewide safer at home phase, and assistance for small businesses.
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here were the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Monday:
16,907 cases (+272)
2,838 hospitalized (+39)
56 counties (+0)
83,266 people tested (+1,914)
851 deaths (+9)
163 outbreaks (+0)
3:45 p.m. | DPS moves summer programs remotely
Denver Public Schools is moving all summer programs remotely and all summer camps will be canceled, the district announced on Monday. The remote programs will include the DPS Summer Academy, high school credit recovery, sixth and ninth-grade academies and extended year services for special education. The district will continue grab-and-go food services.
3 p.m.| Colorado National Guard plans F-16 flyover
The Colorado National Guard is planning an F-16 flyover to honor COVID-19 frontline workers across Colorado.
The flyover will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, beginning in Greeley and continuing to Fort Collins, the high country, the Denver metro area and then finishing in Colorado Springs.
Here's the full schedule, from the Colorado National Guard:
#StateofCO @USNationalGuard to perform flyovers to salute Colorado heroes May 6, 2020. @COEmergency @LtGovofCO @GovofCO @COEmergency #DoingMyPartCO @140WG #COVID19Colorado https://t.co/l1ePJyESqs pic.twitter.com/fvkIheI34Q
— Colo National Guard (@CONG1860) May 4, 2020
2:54 p.m. | City of Arvada extends closure of city facilities
The City of Arvada has extended the closure of city facilities to the public through May 30, 2020, "as part of its continued response to the COVID-19 health crisis," city officials said, adding that while city facilities have remained closed to the public, nearly all city services remain available to the community in a remote or physically-distant capacity.
2:17 p.m. | Denver's stay-at-home order to expire after Friday
City officials confirmed Monday Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will not extend the city's stay-at-home order for a second time and will allow it to expire after this Friday. The mayor had extended the original order —which was put in place March 24 — on April 23, leaving the restrictions in place through Friday and leaving it open for the possibility for a second extension.
Read More:https://bit.ly/2zZPR27
2 p.m. | New testing map unveiled
Gov. Jared Polis on Monday unveiled the state's new community testing site map, which shows where community sites for COVID-19 testing are set up. The map does not show hospital testing sites — Polis emphasized that residents should still go through their doctor if they need a COVID-19 test. But the state map shows where the community sites are located, their hours, who can get tested there and other information needed to get tested.
Click here to read the full story.
11:45 a.m. | Boulder County to require face masks starting May 9
The Boulder County Board of Health approved a Public Health “Facial Covering” Order over the weekend. This means that beginning May 9, every person older than 12 years old will be required to wear a face covering when in public anywhere in the county.
“Although the science varies, most public health experts agree wearing facial coverings in public as social distancing restrictions are eased can help us further reduce the spread of COVID-19 that we’ve achieved by staying at home,” said Bill Hayes, Boulder County Public Health COVID response safety officer. “Facial coverings are not a panacea, however. They must be worn properly to be effective, and they should not be a reason to reduce social distancing.”
11:40 a.m. | Clinica Family Health offering COVID-19 testing
Clinica Family Health and Boulder County Public Health are partnering to offer testing for novel coronavirus to anybody in the general public who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Testing is available via drive-through clinic at Clinica’s Lafayette facility at 1735 S. Public Road, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, or until daily testing supplies run out. For questions, call 303-650-4460.
9:42 a.m. | Denver Int’l Airport to require face masks
Everyone visiting and traveling through Denver International Airport will be required to wear a face covering starting May 6, to go along with the city of Denver’s order. The requirement will be in place until further notice. Employees at the airport are already required to do the same.
“The health and safety of our passengers and employees is our number one priority, and it is going to take all of us to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “As we slowly enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, it is important that we each take personal responsibility to keep ourselves and our community safe.”
9:20 a.m. | Gov. Polis news conference at 1:30 p.m.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is expected to provide an update on the state’s response to COVID-19 at 1:30 p.m. We plan to carry the news conference live on our website, streaming apps, social media and over the air.
7:15 a.m. | Happening today: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment virtual town hall
There are two virtual town halls scheduled today with the state Department of Labor and Employment to provide updates and information on Colorado’s unemployment insurance program. The town halls are:
---Today, 9:10 a.m. (English)
---Today, 11:30 a.m. (Spanish)
7:02 a.m. | Emergency fund established for Denver arts and culture organizations
Denver’s art and culture organizations are getting hit by an unprecedented loss in revenue due to the novel coronavirus. To help, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and The Denver Foundation have teamed up to create an emergency fund to help small and mid-sized organizations survive this time.
The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has committed $1 million toward this relief fund. The Denver Foundation will donate $50,000. Other early donors to the fund include Denver Arts & Venues at $205,000, Gates Family Foundation at $100,000 and PNC Bank at $10,000.
Click here to learn more.
5 a.m. Starting today: Fort Collins to require people to wear face coverings
The City of Fort Collins will require people to wear face coverings in most enclosed buildings open to the public beginning today. The face coverings will be required in the following places:
-- Any enclosed area, including retail and commercial businesses or on-site service providers, to which the public is invited or in which workers, including volunteers, from more than one household are present
-- Any City of Fort Collins building or indoor City facility
-- Any public transportation, including City Transfort buses and bus shelters
-- Any other public indoor place where person are unable to maintain safe social distancing from others not of their own household
Exemptions to the order include:
-- Persons under the age of 10 years or children within a childcare facility
-- Persons working in an office or other workspace who do not have any face-to-face interactions with or share workspace with other persons
-- Persons who are customers of banks, financial institutions, and pawn shops (employees still required to wear masks here)
-- Property owned or operated by the federal, state or county governments
5 a.m. | Starting today: Headed to Costco? You're required to wear a mask
On its website, Costco says that all shoppers must wear a "mask or face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times" in the store. The rule does not apply to children aged 2 or younger and does not apply to those who cannot wear a mask because of a medical condition.
Click herefor the live blog from Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3 2020.
