Governor Polis Updates April 2, 2020 COVID-19 Including PPE Supplies TrackerQuick Links to Stay Up to Date Topline Update We have 3,342 cases and 620 hospitalizations out of 18,645 completed tests. Tragically, we have had 80 deaths to date. We are thinking of these families and communities during these difficult times. Yesterday, the Governor provided an overview of what the state must do to to return to economic and societal normalcy:
The Governor also provided a critical update on the state’s ability to obtain Personal Protective Equipment as well as an overview of how we are building out our medical capacity to meet the coming surge of cases. A link to the presentation that the Governor presented during yesterday’s press conference can be found here. Personal Protective Equipment Update Not only are we facing a health care crisis, we are also facing a supply chain crisis that has hampered our abilities to effectively respond to the health care needs. The Governor submitted an official request to Vice President Pence requesting what we need from the Strategic National Stockpile in terms of equipment. Here is what we have gotten from the federal government so far
One of the biggest challenges is that this precious personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators are in demand across the country and around the world, so everyone is competing against each other to get it, and what we received from the national stockpile won’t get us past a few days of need. We’ve asked every relevant sector of the economy to do an inventory, and offer up to the health care system any PPE or DME (Durable Medical Equipment) they have to spare. We are working to build entirely new supplier relationships with global companies to acquire PPE. We’re also working with manufacturers within Colorado and all over the world who are repurposing their operations to make these needed supplies.To date, we have placed a series of orders with various suppliers, and will continue to place orders as we identify reputable manufacturers both in Colorado and across the globe.
Once we physically obtain this equipment, we need to test it to make sure that it is safe for doctors, nurses and patients alike -- we thank our partners at CU and CSU for helping us test this equipment so we can get it in the hands of our medical providers. At this point of this crisis, PPE equals lives. Ventilators equals lives. It’s the difference between our healthcare workers being able to treat the sick, and falling ill themselves. And we will continue to work with anyone and everyone who can provide this equipment until Colorado’s needs are met. Medical Surge Capacity Healthcare institutions across the state have been preparing for COVID-19 for many months and have taken steps to increase internal capacity to prepare for a surge of patients. The role of the state is to:
Based on epidemiological models, and depending on the effectiveness of social distancing measures like school closures and stay-at-home orders, Colorado can expect to see a surge of patients that will overwhelm hospitals between April and July 2020. Remember -- we are trying to delay the peak so it is not as severe, and so it buys us time to build more capacity, get more PPE, and save lives. And based on clinical evidence from areas previously hit with the COVID-19 outbreaks, patients who are severely ill will require intensive care and will be ventilator dependent for an average of 11 to 20 days. Just like in normal life, some cases are more critical than others. So we have developed a four-tier system by which we will classify patients. And we have matched the appropriate class of patient with the type of facility that will best meet their needs. This chart details our four-tier plan, and when we expect to have the additional capacity built.
We want to thank our health care partners and other partners including the Army Corps of Engineers for helping to build out this capacity. In addition to the bed construction, we are also working to establish a patient transport unit so that patients can be transported to the appropriate facility as their symptoms progress. We believe that this plan -- along with the drastic physical distancing measures that we are all taking -- will allow us to deal with the surge of patients without overwhelming our public health capacity here in Colorado. Stay in Primary Residence We have gotten reports of an alarming increase in people who own a second home in the mountains traveling there. As a reminder, this is not a vacation. The mountain communities have a much higher rate of infection than the rest of the state and anyone traveling there now is putting themselves and others at additional risk. Furthermore, from the beginning, we have been extremely concerned about overwhelming the public health systems in our isolated mountain communities that do not have the capacity to handle a surge in positive cases. We cannot afford to put extra pressure on our small mountain health care systems, as EMS, Law Enforcement, hospitals are already strained, and grocery stores are already struggling to keep up with demand just from local residents, much less an influx of second homeowners who think this is an opportunity for a vacation. Please stay in your primary residence. It is much more likely that your primary residence has better access to necessities and health care resources than our mountain communities that are having a much more difficult time dealing with this crisis. Evictions and Utility Bill Notices During this unprecedented time, Coloradans should not have stress over rent, mortgage payments, or utility bills adding to the other anxieties caused by COVID-19. That’s why on March 20, 2020, Governor Jared Polis issued Executive Order D 2020 012, ordering Colorado state agencies to work with property owners, mortgage companies, and utilities providers to limit evictions, foreclosures, and public utility disconnections while Colorado is in a state of emergency. Furthermore, the federal government has passed legislation that will give individuals making under $99,000 per year up to $1,200 in cash assistance, including $500 for each dependent. Finally, Colorado is encouraging those who have lost wages or lost their job because of this crisis to apply for unemployment insurance at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/unemployment If you know you won’t be able to pay for these vital needs, or are concerned about your ability to pay in the coming months, please review the steps that have been taken by both government and private industries, to see how they may impact you. You can also find resources for assistance with payment of rent, mortgage, and utility bills by visiting www.211colorado.org or by dialing 211 on a phone. Our teams at the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and at the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) have pulled together a document that shares resources with consumers to help with these issues during this time of crisis. Extension of School Closure E.O. to April 30 Yesterday, the Governor announced the extension of the closure of all schools through April 30. This is consistent with the President’s views that restrictions on in-person gatherings should go on for at least the month of April. The practice of announcing executive orders for 30 days is something that typically happens during times of crises. We expect that many districts will make the decision to stay closed for the remainder of the school year; for now the Governor believes that the best statewide policy is to remain closed until April 30th. We know that the extension of closures will be tough news for parents, including those who are juggling working from home and helping their children with schoolwork. But this is the best way to keep everyone safe, prevent the spread of coronavirus, and prevent unnecessary death. So we want to thank all the parents, educators, and students out there for adapting to this situation as best as we can. UPDATE: Special Enrollment Period Extended to April 30th Our special enrollment period for the state’s health care exchange has been extended to April 30th. If you are or someone you know is currently uninsured or if you have temporarily lost your job due to COVID-19, please take advantage of this special enrollment period to get affordable health coverage. Visit connectforhealthco.com and enroll today. DACA The Governor is calling on the federal government to extend protections for DREAMers through 2020. We need to be 100% focused on the crisis at hand, and many DACA recipients work in critical services including healthcare and law enforcement. We should not be expending resources to throw people out of the country who were brought here as children through no choice of their own, and many of whom know no other home than America. Census Day Finally, I want to salute everyone who is doing their civic duty -- their patriotic duty -- by staying at home and practicing physical distancing. But there is another civic duty that arrived in your mailbox in the last month: your Census form. The Census is so much more than a population count. It is a critical process meant to ensure that the people of our state and their communities get access to the resources that they need to thrive, both now and for the future. An accurate count will mean billions of dollars over the next 10 years in federal funds for our communities to help with a variety of necessary projects, from building roads to providing healthcare. This pandemic shows exactly how crucial it is that we have the representation and funding we need to care for Coloradans. Across the United States, there is approximately $880 billion in federal funding that is allocated based on Census counts. And for Coloradans, that equates to roughly $13 billion annually or an estimated $2,300 per person. The census ensures that Coloradans are fairly represented in Congress. Colorado’s population has grown steadily since the last Census and with an accurate count we might be up for an 8th Congressional seat. That means more folks advocating for our fair share from Washington. The bottom line is that we want those dollars here in Colorado, improving the quality of life for all of our residents. Go to Census.gov for more information, and if you have lost your form, call 1-800-772-7851 to request a new one. |
