DENVER — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the state has seen a downward trend in hospitalizations 11 of the last 14 days, good news in the state's continued efforts to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, during a Tuesday news conference.
Polis said a cross-agency team is working on a process where people can visit loved ones at senior care facilities by getting tested, and then be allowed a window to visit if the tests come back negative.
"We are continuing to upgrade testing at nursing facilities and senior centers," Polis said. "There needs to be a more normal way if we're going to be in this situation for a period of months."
Polis also addressed the work being done in the Legislature, saying lawmakers are working to pass the state budget by the end of June to ensure funding by the July 1 deadline. He also said while budget cuts are difficult, "we're looking forward to restoring those cuts" when the novel coronavirus is fully managed.
Colorado lawmakers have a $3.3 billion shortfall for the budget year that begins in July. That means the state legislature will have to figure out how to pay for state programs and services with 25% fewer dollars than this current year's budget that ends in June.
Polis added that the state has raised $18.4 million for Help Colorado Now, which raises funds for businesses and residents in need.
"Your donations are making a difference," he said. "We'll get through this, stronger."
Addressing personal protective equipment (PPE) supply and the state's readiness in case COVID-19 cases peak again, Polis said there are no active PPE shortages and that the state is working with county health departments to ensure preparedness.
"The minute we let our guard down, we'll have a resurgence," Polis said.
With respect to visitation to the state, particularly from neighboring Utah and Arizona — both of which have seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases — Polis urged businesses, residents and visitors to continue taking the proper precautions. Those include maintaining social distancing, isolating if symptoms are present or if in an at-risk segment of the population, wearing masks and hand-washing.
Polis added that there are currently "no plans" to implement a system that would check visitors for symptoms.
Polis was also joined by Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera at the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, who shared her experience in home quarantine as an at-risk adult. Primavera is 70 years old and is a cancer survivor, and has spent nearly three months social distancing at home.
"It's been really difficult," Primavera said. "But I have work to do to keep me really busy."
Primavera outlined several state projects she's been a part of, including working to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs for at least the next six years. The Pentagon is expected to announce a decision for the command in early 2021.
Primavera also reiterated the need for Coloradans experiencing grief or struggling with mental health to seek help from Colorado Crisis Services by calling 844-493-8255, texting TALK to 38255 or visiting the website.
Polis last week extended the state's safer-at-home order to July 1, transitioning the state into what he called, "safer-at-home and in the vast, great outdoors." That order eases some restrictions put into place to slow the spread of COVID-19, and it also encourages Coloradans to get outside – as long as they can maintain proper social distancing.
On Monday, Polis joined the Colorado Board of Education to discuss the future of schools in Colorado, where the governor expressed strong optimism that schools would be able to reopen come fall.
Board members emphasized the guidance must evolve as new data emerge and conversations with the state health department continue.
The meeting came after Colorado Department of Education (CDE) instruction in late May that said districts should create a toolkit to plan for alternatives to regular reopening, as well as requirements and considerations for school districts to use while planning for the fall.
Last Thursday, Polis unveiled a new executive order giving businesses permission to deny service to customers who aren’t wearing face masks, saying that they are a necessary tool to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and allow life to begin to return to normal.
FULL STORY: Polis signs order giving businesses permission to refuse service to customers not wearing masks
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