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Category: Health & Food Recalls

Consumer Advisory: COVID-Related Enrollment Period Ends Thursday, April 30 Colorado Insurance Commissioner: “Take advantage of this time to enroll.”

Colorado’s Insurance Commissioner and Director of the Division of Insurance, Michael Conway, is urging uninsured Coloradans to take advantage of the COVID-19-related special period to enroll in individual health insurance (meaning insurance not from an employer). This period will end on Thursday, April 30.

“In the midst of this pandemic, there are many uncertainties, but what we do know is that people with health insurance will be in a better position to get through this. They are more likely to seek treatment for their medical needs – whether those be chronic conditions or emergency situations like COVID-19. And they are less likely to suffer huge financial hits from large hospital bills. That’s why I am encouraging anyone who doesn’t have health insurance to take advantage of this special enrollment over the next two days and get enrolled.”

Colorado consumers are encouraged to enroll through our state’s exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, as financial assistance for those who qualify is only available when enrolling through Connect. Contact them at 855-752-6749, visit ConnectforHealthCO.com to get assistance or use their Quick Cost & Plan Finder to check eligibility for financial assistance and find plans. Health insurance coverage will start on May 1 for anyone enrolling during this period.

Coloradans who lose their employer-based health insurance, are reminded that loss of such coverage allows them a 60-day window to enroll in individual coverage, whenever that might happen throughout the year. A change in income or a person’s living situation may also trigger such enrollment windows. See Connect for Health Colorado’s “When can I buy insurance?” page for details.

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April 30, 2020
State releases testing results from testing at three Front-Range long-term care facilitie

The state released the results from the testing initiated by the Unified Command Center (UCC) at three long-term care facilities on April 19. The COVID-19 testing is supported by members of the Colorado National Guard, Colorado State Patrol, and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Approximately 40% of Colorado’s COVID-19 fatalities are associated with long-term care facilities. The three testing sites were chosen based on their size and the fact that they had NOT identified outbreaks prior to the testing. This proactive testing strategy was instrumental in identifying previously unrecognized infections in the facilities. Having this information early has provided much-needed time for these facilities to react quickly in implementing appropriate infection prevention practices to limit the further spread of infection. The state provided tests to each facility to test staff and residents. Nearly 900 tests were administered. There were 20 positive or presumed positive results, and some results are still pending. If facilities have outbreaks, more details on the results will be shared in the state’s weekly outbreak report, which is published each Wednesday as epidemiologists investigate and confirm test results: https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/outbreak-data.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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April 28, 2020
Colorado Delegation Members Urge FCC to Grant Children’s Hospital Colorado Funding for Rapid Expansion of Telehealth

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D) and Colorado U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D), Ed Perlmutter (D), Doug Lamborn (R), Scott Tipton (R), Ken Buck (R), Jason Crow (D), and Joe Neguse (D) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Kris Monteith requesting full consideration of Children’s Hospital Colorado’s application for the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support the telehealth efforts of health care providers amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“[M]any of Children’s Colorado patients remain chronically ill and vulnerable, requiring ongoing access to the elevated level of care available only at Children’s Hospital…Children’s Colorado has already undertaken a massive mobilization of a novel treatment paradigm, growing their telehealth volume from an average of 20 visits per day in 2019 to an average of 1,200 per day now. Still, much more is needed. Children’s Colorado has the potential to considerably build on this momentum, extend it further to all patients who need it, and sustain that access going forward,” wrote the lawmakers.

With new FCC funding, Children’s Hospital Colorado would be able to dramatically expand their telehealth services, enabling them to support their patients while reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their families, and their communities and reduce the use of personal protective equipment as the country faces widespread shortages.

The lawmakers continued: “The proposed FCC funding would help limit community spread of the virus and significantly mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Colorado’s patients who are at greatest risk of poor health by implementing telehealth and other creative technological solutions to ensure continued patient access from their homes and in partnership with their community PCP.”

“Therefore, we encourage you to give the application submitted by the Children’s Hospital Colorado every appropriate consideration consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. Thank you for your consideration, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded,” the lawmakers concluded.

“At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we’ve gone from an average of 20 telehealth visits per day to 1,200 per day as we adapt to the novel coronavirus, but there’s so much more we can do to build on this innovation, extend it to all patients who need it, and sustain it going forward,” said Jena Hausmann, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado. “Senator Bennet and the entire Colorado delegation are champions for telehealth and other creative healthcare solutions, and we deeply appreciate their support for funding from the FCC that will help us ensure that kids in Colorado and across our region can get the care they need while remaining safe at home and limiting the risk of community spread of the virus.”

The text of the letter is available HERE .

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April 28, 2020
State of Colorado Receives Battelle System to Decontaminate Used N95 Masks
The Colorado Unified Coordination Center received a Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System that cleans and disinfects used N95 respirators for reuse. The system will be installed at the Adams County Fairgrounds in the Exhibit Hall today. The system will be returned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when no longer needed.

Battelle Critical Care Decontamination Systems are self-contained, mobile decontamination units that use vapor phase hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 filtering facepiece respirators from biological contaminants, including SARS-CoV-2. The system can decontaminate up to 80,000 used N95 respirators per system per day, with a single respirator able to be reused up to 20 times without degradation.

The State of Colorado is approved for two systems by the U.S. HHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A second location is being secured within the state to house the second system.

All healthcare personnel are eligible for the free N95 decontamination, including emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, dentists and dental hygienists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the healthcare setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel). Additionally, non-medical personnel participating in an emergency response due to COVID-19 also qualify as a healthcare professional under the Battelle Emergency Use Authorization.

How to sign up:
- To get N95 respirators cleaned, health care providers must first fill out an enrollment form at battelle.org/decon.
- Battelle will return an email with links to the enrollment contract, instructions and the Battelle point of contact.
- The enrollee will be given a three-digit code, which must be written on the respirators with permanent marker.
- The respirators need to be unsoiled, free of blood, mucus, makeup, lip balm, etc. Place all masks into a single plastic bag and tie off the bag when it is full. Any soiled masks will be thrown out. The bag must be placed into a second plastic bag that should be wiped down with disinfectant.
- The respirators must be placed into a shipping box and labeled with the three-digit code and a biohazard sticker.
- The enrollee contacts a shipper to coordinate pickup and delivery.
Follow the step-by-step process of how to submit respirators for decontamination.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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April 28, 2020
Sun Protection and Skin Cancer Awareness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
What The Skin Cancer Foundation Wants You to Know

New York, NY (April 7, 2020) – The spread of COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) has sparked concern worldwide and prompted many leaders to take decisive action to contain the virus. Several states have mandated citizens to stay home from work, socially distance and remain indoors, meaning people have found their time outside has been drastically reduced. Although we may not be exposed to direct sunlight as often, The Skin Cancer Foundation advises everyone to remain vigilant in regard to protecting your skin and checking your body for suspicious lesions.

While spending most of your time indoors, it’s instinctive to gravitate toward places in your home that receive natural light, like windows and skylights. It’s important to exercise caution while enjoying this little slice of the outdoor world, however — sunlight streaming through glass can still harm your skin. Two types of UV light are proven to contribute to the risk for skin cancer: ultraviolet A (UVA), which has a longer wavelength, and ultraviolet B (UVB), which has a shorter wavelength. UVA and UVB rays can cause sunburns and tanning, but UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, which can contribute to signs of premature aging, like dark spots and wrinkles. They’re also better at finding you.

“UVA rays can penetrate window glass, meaning you can still be at risk of exposure while inside,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Even when home, it’s important to be cognizant of UV radiation and apply sunscreen to the face and exposed areas of the body.”

For times like this, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 or higher for daily use, especially if you’re going to be working right by a window. Try placing your sunscreen beside your toothbrush so you have easy access while getting ready in the morning, as it might be difficult to remember to apply when you know you won’t be venturing outside. For indoor workers who receive a significant amount of incidental sun exposure, it’s important to reapply sunscreen, especially before going outside for breaks or errands. You can further protect your skin by pulling down the window shade during peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM), installing UV-protective window film and covering up with clothing.

While preventing skin damage that can lead to skin cancer is imperative, now is also a good time to revisit skin cancer warning signs and perform at-home skin exams. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you examine your skin head-to-toe every month, and all you need is a bright light, a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, two chairs or stools, a blow-dryer, paper and a pencil. Look for for anything new, changing or unusual on your skin, and reach out to a dermatologist if you see something concerning. You can find more information about skin cancer warning signs and how to perform a self-exam at TheBigSee.org.

If your dermatologist is no longer seeing patients in the office or is extra busy due to COVID-19, see if your doctor offers any teledermatology options. Teledermatology is a rapidly developing subspecialty using the latest technology to allow patients better access to high-quality dermatologic care without traveling to the clinic. If you have a medical emergency, you should still try to get in to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. But for non-emergencies, here’s how you can use teledermatology to help when it comes to skin cancer:
- Take photos on your phone of anything new, changing or unusual on your skin and monitor it over time. There are even apps that will send you a monthly reminder to check on the spot to see if it has evolved.
- Share the photos with your dermatologist who can look them over virtually and provide advice over the phone. They will determine if you need to come into the office or not.
- If you’ve recently been treated for skin cancer, your dermatologist can provide follow-up care over the phone or via video sessions.
image credit: MGN Online

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April 7, 2020
Gov. Polis Sends Letter Encouraging New Safety Protocols for Grocery Stores
DENVER – Today Gov. Polis sent a letter to the Presidents of Albertsons Companies, which owns Safeway, and The Kroger Co., which owns King Soopers and City Market, encouraging new safety protocols for customers and employees. In the letter, the Governor also applauds efforts currently underway.

“I want to thank you, as a business leader in Colorado, for your efforts to date working in partnership with our state, your employees, and your customers to better protect our public health and food security during this extraordinarily challenging period,” the letter reads.

The letter includes proposals for providing the greatest possible protections for workers and customers while minimizing economic disruption.

Proposals include:
- Providing appropriate gloves, masks, face screens, and other personal protective equipment to grocery store workers to the extent possible
- Consider expanding into grocery delivery services, prioritizing service to those at the highest risk
- Provide daily designated time periods for higher-risk individuals to shop
- Establish entrance/access controls to ensure crowds are in compliance with safe social distancing practices
- To the extent possible, assign those employees with higher health-risks to tasks with lowest exposure risks such as backroom work
To read the letter and see the full list of recommendations, click here.

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March 24, 2020
State health department begins to distribute resources from Strategic National Stockpile

The Colorado State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are now shipping supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile across Colorado to help communities respond to COVID-19.

The Strategic National Stockpile is “the nation’s largest supply of potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.” Colorado received the following materials:

49,200 N95 masks

115,000 surgical masks

21,420 surgical gowns

21,800 face shields

84 coveralls

CDPHE estimates that these supplies are sufficient for approximately one full day of statewide operations.

The State Unified Command Group, which is part of the EOC, will distribute these materials to every county health department and tribe throughout the state where they are needed most. The following factors were used to determine allocation:

county population

portion of the population that is older than age 65 proportional to the state population

the number of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals

if the county or tribe has received supplies previously All county health departments and tribes in the state will receive supplies. CDPHE will work with regional staff to coordinate deliveries.

“We are relieved that we have finally received materials from the Strategic National Stockpile, but it’s not nearly enough,” said Scott Bookman, COVID Incident Commander, CDPHE. “We’re going to need more supplies and are grateful to all our partners across the state who are donating supplies and stepping up to help Colorado meet the demand.”

There are many ways people can contribute to these efforts:

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is coordinating requests for supplies and donations of supplies, as well as trained medical personnel. Please follow the three steps on the Colorado Business EOC website [colorado.gov/cobeoc/business-members-and-vendors] to create an account in the state resource database. The State EOC uses this database to fill all resource requests from state and local agencies during emergencies.

Coloradans who wish to donate or volunteer to help those affected by COVID-19 should visit www.helpcoloradonow.com.

There is an urgent need for blood. Go to vitalent.org to sign up to donate blood. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is meant for single-use and is recommended by the CDC to be used for COVID-19 testing. In order to preserve these important resources for critical health care needs, CDPHE is urging the public to not wait for a test to self-isolate. People who are not at high risk of severe illness may not need to be evaluated in person or tested for COVID-19. Not everyone with symptoms will be tested right away. Call your health care provider only if your illness becomes more severe, especially if you are experiencing shortness of breath.

If you have any symptoms — even mild ones — public health urges you to stay home and isolate yourself until:

You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (without the use of medicine) AND

Other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) have improved AND

At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.

Anyone in your household you have had close contact with (within six feet for approximately 10 minutes) should self-quarantine for 14 days, even if you haven’t been tested for COVID-19.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911. If you have severe respiratory symptoms, especially shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tell the 911 dispatcher about your symptoms. Do not wait for a COVID-19 test to call 911. Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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March 24, 2020
Colorado Continues to Take Action in Response to COVID-19

DENVER – Today Governor Polis announced a number of state actions to address the impact of COVID-19. Actions include a special enrollment period for uninsured Coloradans, executive orders temporarily suspending elective surgeries and reducing in-person contact related to election requirements, and an updated public health order from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“As a state, we are looking at all possible solutions to ensure we are protecting the health and safety of Coloradans and minimizing the duration of the crisis,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is a coordinated effort with all state agencies and community partners to utilize every resource available during this difficult time to reduce the severity and duration of the crisis. Together, we will get through this.”

The Governor signed an executive order today temporarily suspending elective and non-essential surgeries and procedures to preserve important medical equipment, like personal protective equipment and ventilators, needed to combat COVID-19. The executive order is in effect from March 23 to April 14, with the exception of rural and critical access hospitals. The state recognizes the unique challenges faced by rural hospitals and their essential role in providing support to their communities. This includes all voluntary or elective surgeries or procedures, whether medical, dental, or veterinary. A voluntary or elective surgery or procedure means the surgery can be delayed without risk to the current or future health of the patient. Read the full executive order here.

The Governor also issued an updated executive order for in-person contact regarding elections and operations in the Secretary of State’s Office. This includes the suspension of any in-person filings of forms, statements, applications or any other documents with the Secretary of State’s office. This executive order also includes directives for the Title Board, county clerk’s offices and county canvass board. Read the full executive order here.

In addition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an updated public health order closing bars, restaurants, theaters, gyms and casinos to include nonessential personal services facilities, horse track and off-track betting facilities statewide. Nonessential personal services include hair or nail salons, spas, or tattoo or massage parlors. Click here to read the updated public health order.

The Division of Insurance and Connect for Health Colorado today announced that Emergency Regulation 20-E-02 will establish a special enrollment period (SEP) for uninsured Coloradans to get health insurance. Uninsured people will be allowed to enroll in individual health insurance plans (meaning plans NOT from an employer) from March 20 through April 3, 2020. Coverage will be effective starting on April 1, regardless of when someone enrolls during that window. Only people who are currently uninsured are eligible to enroll, as this is not a period for people with coverage to change plans. Uninsured spouses and children will also be allowed to enroll at this time, even if one spouse or a child’s parent may already be insured.

“Many people are unaware that they are eligible for financial assistance to help lower their premiums,” said Michael Conway, Colorado Insurance Commissioner. “We encourage everyone who is uninsured to use this opportunity to visit Connect for Health Colorado, check what assistance they may be eligible for, and enroll in coverage.”

Coloradans who lose their job, or who may lose their job in the coming weeks, and thus lose their employer-based health insurance, are reminded that loss of such coverage allows them a 60-day window to enroll in individual coverage, whenever that might happen throughout the year. See Connect for Health Colorado’s “When can I buy insurance?” page for details.

“We’re ready to do our part to help protect the health and well-being of as many Coloradans as possible,” said Connect for Health Colorado® Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson. “It is our mission to increase access to health insurance, and I am pleased we can make it easier for people to get the coverage they need at this critical time. I encourage all uninsured Coloradans, especially those who are newly uninsured, to enroll now by reaching out to Connect for Health Colorado.”

Colorado consumers are encouraged to enroll through our state’s exchange, Connect for Health Colorado. Financial assistance for those who qualify is only available when enrolling through Connect for Health Colorado. Contact Connect at 855-752-6749 or find in-person assistance through their statewide network of certified experts at connectforhealthco.com/person-help, including appointments with a broker or assister by phone. In addition, Connect for Health offers tools such as the Quick Cost & Plan Finder that can help check eligibility for financial assistance while finding plans that fit consumers’ needs.

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March 20, 2020
State health department calls on people, especially those who think they might have the illness, to self-isolate
Close contacts of sick people should self-quarantine

DENVER, March 19, 2020: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is urging self-isolation or self-quarantine for Coloradans and visitors to Colorado.

Self-isolation applies to people who: • Have a positive COVID-19 test.
- Have symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, shortness of breath and/or fever).
- Are getting ill and think they might have COVID-19. Symptoms, especially early on, may be very mild and feel like a common cold. Symptoms could include a combination of cough, body aches, fatigue, and chest tightness. Some people may not develop fever or fever may not appear until several days into the illness. Self-quarantine applies to: •People who are close contacts of a person who either has a positive test or symptoms — even early symptoms — of illness.
“Right now not everyone who has been exposed to or becomes ill with COVID-19 will be able to or need to have a test to confirm whether or not they have the illness,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, CDPHE, “but isolation and quarantine, even without test results, is what people must do to slow the spread of this illness in our state. Even people who feel mild illness, and aren’t sure, should follow self-isolation orders, and their contacts should follow self-quarantine orders.”

Self-isolation is for people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and means staying away from others until 7 days have passed since the symptoms began and until any fever has been gone for 72 hours and all other symptoms are improving.

Self-quarantine is for people who don’t have symptoms but are close contacts of people who have symptoms. It means staying away from others for 14 days to see if one becomes ill. People who become ill with COVID-19 symptoms (even early symptoms) while self-quarantining then start the self-isolation period.

CDPHE has put together how-tos for people who are self-isolating and self-quarantining. They are available at covid19.colorado.gov/isolation-and-quarantine.

“We’re calling on all people in Colorado now to take personal responsibility and self-quarantine and self-isolate in order to protect people and our health care system,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, CDPHE, “and we are counting on everyone, including the media to share this information quickly and responsibly.”

Increasingly, cities and counties, including some in Colorado, are issuing stricter social distancing orders than those that currently are in place in Colorado. The stricter orders mean everyone must stay home, except for certain essential activities. The terms of such orders could vary by location. More restrictive orders are a more aggressive approach intended to enforce social distancing and keep people at home to limit disease spread.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

El Departamento de Salud y Medio Ambiente de Colorado pide a la población, especialmente a aquellos que podrían tener la enfermedad, a auto-aislarse.

Los contactos cercanos de estas personas enfermas, deben de estar en auto-cuarentena.

DENVER, marzo 19, 2020: El Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente del Estado de Colorado (CDPHE) urge a auto-asilarse o ponerse en auto-cuarentena a todos los habitantes de Colorado y a sus visitantes.

El auto-aislamiento incluye a las personas que:

• Hayan dado resultado positivo a la prueba del COVID-19.

• Presenten síntomas del COVID-19 (tos, dificultad de respirar y/o fiebre).

• Se están enfermando y sospechen que pueden tener el COVID-19. Los síntomas, especialmente al inicio, pueden ser muy leves y pueden sentirse como un resfriado común. Los síntomas pueden incluir una combinación de tos, dolores de cuerpo, fatiga y rigidez en el pecho. Algunas personas pueden no presentar síntomas hasta varios días después de estar enfermos.

La auto-cuarentena incluye a:

• Personas que estén en contacto cercano con una persona que ha resultado positivo a la prueba, o con síntomas — aún síntomas leves — de la enfermedad.

“Ahora mismo cualquier persona que haya sido expuesta o se haya enfermado con el COVID-19 podrá o necesitará llevar a cabo una prueba para confirmar si tiene o no la enfermedad,” dijo la Dra. Rachel Herlihy, epidemióloga del estado, “pero el aislamiento y la cuarentena, aún sin los resultados, es lo que las personas deben hacer para disminuir la propagación de la enfermedad en nuestro estado. Aún las personas que sientan una leve enfermedad, y no estén seguros de tenerla, deben seguir la instrucción de un auto-aislamiento y sus contactos deben seguir la instrucción de la auto-cuarentena”.

El auto-aislamiento es para las personas que tengan síntomas del COVID-19 y significa estar lejos de los demás hasta que 7 días hayan pasado desde que los síntomas hayan comenzado y hasta que la fiebre haya desaparecido por 72 horas y todos los demás síntomas hayan mejorado.

La auto-cuarentena es para las personas que no tienen síntomas pero que estuvieron en contacto con personas que tienen síntomas. Significa estar lejos de los demás por 14 días para ver si se presenta la enfermedad. Personas que se enfermen con COVID-19 (aún primeros síntomas) mientras estén en auto-cuarentena, deben comenzar el periodo de auto-aislamiento.

El CDPHE ha puesto una serie de procedimientos para personas que estén en auto-aislamiento y auto-cuarentena. Estos están disponibles en covid19.colorado.gov/isolation-and-quarantine.

“Le estamos haciendo un llamado a toda la población de Colorado para que tomen la responsabilidad y se auto-aíslen y se pongan en auto-cuarentena para proteger a las personas y a nuestro sistema de salud,” dijo Jill Hunsaker Ryan, directora ejecutiva del CDPHE, “ y estamos contando con todos, incluyendo los medios de comunicación para que compartan esta información rápidamente y con responsabilidad”.

Algunas ciudades y condados, incluyendo algunos en Colorado, han realizado órdenes de distancia social más estrictas que las actuales en Colorado. Órdenes más estrictas significa que todos deben quedarse en casa, excepto para algunas actividades esenciales. Los términos de estas órdenes pueden variar de lugar a lugar. Órdenes más estrictas son medidas más agresivas destinadas a hacer obligatorio la distancia social y mantener a las personas en casa para limitar la propagación de la enfermedad.

Actualizaciones en: covid19.colorado.gov.

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March 20, 2020
State health department pursues strategic approach to testing in face of widespread COVID-19 transmission in Colorado
DENVER, March 18, 2020: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is pursuing a strategic approach to testing in the state to steward our state and country’s scarce resources in the face of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Colorado. CDPHE is sending testing resources to specific communities that have not yet had testing that will yield vital information about how the disease is spreading. There is unprecedented collaboration between state government, local government, and the private sector to increase testing capacity over the next few weeks. However, CDPHE is strongly advising the public: If you have symptoms (fever, cough, and shortness of breath), don’t wait for a test to self-isolate.

The State is expanding testing to include a temporary site in Pueblo on Thursday, March 19. The Colorado National Guard and Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment are supporting these efforts. CDPHE also plans to send testing resources to other locations later this week. CDPHE is prioritizing testing in areas that have not been highly tested to better understand where the disease is occurring and respond. These sites will serve high-risk patients who have been pre-selected by area health care providers. They will not accept walk-up or drive-up patients.

“We are prioritizing testing in certain areas in order to better understand where and how much transmission is occurring,” said Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist. “It’s critical that we are gathering data in all areas of the state, especially areas where there hasn’t been a lot of testing.”

The state health department is also strongly advising that if you have mild symptoms, stay home and avoid contact with others. Call your health care provider only if your illness becomes more severe, especially if you are experiencing shortness of breath. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 and tell the dispatcher your symptoms. People who are not at high risk of severe illness may not need to be evaluated in person or tested for COVID-19. Not everyone with symptoms will be tested right away.

If you have mild symptoms, suspect you were exposed, and are either unable to get tested or waiting on test results:
- Please stay home and isolate yourself until:
  - You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (without the use of medicine) AND
  - Other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) have improved AND
  - At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
- Anyone in your household you have had close contact with (within six feet for approximately 10 minutes) should self-quarantine for 14 days, even if you haven’t been tested for COVID-19.
Testing completed at the State Laboratory will be prioritized in order to:
- Identify and monitor for community transmission of COVID-19.
- Investigate potential outbreaks in health care and residential facilities.
- Ensure a safe workforce in health care and other facilities serving high-risk populations.
- Test critically ill patients for whom commercial testing will not provide timely enough results.
As state epidemiologists keep a close eye on this rapidly changing situation, recommendations will change. At the beginning of any public health outbreak, it’s important to test and confirm individual cases. This information helps public health responders confirm when and where transmission is happening in a community. However, once community spread becomes more evident, public health moves away from diagnosing the illness in individuals and toward identifying community outbreaks.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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March 19, 2020