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Governor Polis Provides Update on State Response to COVID-19

DENVER – Gov. Polis today provided an update on Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the importance of staying at home for older Coloradans and those with underlying health conditions.

“While Colorado is returning to greater normalcy and more Coloradans safely return to work, older Coloradans and those with underlying health conditions should continue staying home as much as possible,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We are proud of the progress Coloradans have made over the last months, but everyone needs to continue taking the serious necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our neighbors. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. This is a difficult time for many people in our state, but we can’t lose sight of what is at stake if we don’t follow social distancing protocols, wash our hands, or wear masks when leaving the house.”

The Governor was joined via video chat by his 76-year old mother, Susan, who has been staying at home since early March and will continue to do so through June, to help emphasize the importance of older Coloradans and seniors staying at home during this pandemic to protect their health. The pair also discussed ways to communicate with family members and loved ones during this challenging time.

The Governor announced that the state’s Care Facility Task Force has completed 747 infection control surveys, including 100% of all nursing homes in the state. These surveys are critical for the state to track the spread of the virus, especially in nursing homes that are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. The state has also received and is in the process of reviewing 1,048 isolation plans from congregate care facilities across the state. These plans are crucial for ensuring that congregate care facilities are taking appropriate steps to protect residents.

Gov. Polis applauded the announcement to extend the Colorado National Guard’s federal deployment until mid-August. Previously, their federal deployment was set to end after just 89 days — one day short of the 90 day threshold for retirement and education benefits. This would have been deeply unfair to Colorado’s national guardsmen and women who are on hiatus from their day jobs so they can be on the front lines fighting this pandemic, and it would have placed more stress on the state budget.

Earlier this month the state announced we would be highlighting businesses that are finding creative ways to make ends meet through this pandemic through the “Can-Do Colorado” Campaign. Today, the Governor highlighted Johnny B. Good’s Diner in Steamboat Springs which has helped seniors and worked to preserve a sense of community at a time when we need it the most.

The Governor today signed Executive Order D 2020 081, amending Executive Order D 2020 070 directing the expenditure of federal funds pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act). The Executive Order changes the fund source for the accounting of certain CARES Act Fund dollars for education and clarifies the permissible uses of CARES Act Fund dollars for units of local government.

View the news conference on the Governor’s Facebook page.

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May 29, 2020
CBI Virtually Honors Colorado’s Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest Winners

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, members of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) virtually recognized three, 5^th grade students for their winning entries as part of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.

CBI Director John Camper and others presented the first-place award to 5th grade student Alicia Cardenas, from Cheraw Elementary in Cheraw Colorado, who won Colorado’s poster contest in recognition of National Missing Children’s Day on May 25. (Cheraw is located approximately 10 miles north of La Junta.)

“Although Alicia’s entry was not selected as the recipient of the national contest her entry captured the spirit of the theme ‘Bring Our Missing Children Home in vivid colors and endless creativity,” said Director Camper. “While this year’s ceremony looked much different from previous events, it was a wonderful opportunity to virtually meet the students and their families.”

The second and third place winners Kianah Miller from Lincoln Elementary in Delta and Angelica Aguilar from St. John the Baptist School in Longmont were also recognized during the ceremony.

Tens of thousands of children are reported missing in the United States each year. Law enforcement, citizens, and even children have been instrumental in keeping children safe and returning them home to their families, communities and schools.

Colorado law enforcement received more than 8,000 reports of missing children in 2019. The reports were primarily for runaways, and were resolved within a few days or weeks. However, as of May 1, 2020, there were over 600 cases of long-term missing (those missing a year or more) juvenile cases still active in Colorado.

Attached, please find the winning poster for Alicia Cardenas featuring several beautifully drawn framed photos of families with the missing children represented as shadows, as well as an image from the virtual event.

Each year, missing children are honored during National Missing Children’s Day on May 25^th.

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May 28, 2020
12 Coloradans Die Each Summer in Teen Crashes
DENVER (May 28, 2020) – Over the past ten years, more than 120 people were killed on Colorado roadways in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s the takeaway from a new AAA study that found that, nationwide, more than 8,300 people died in teen-related summertime crashes from 2008 to 2018. That’s more than seven people a day each summer.

“The last decade of data show that teens, simply put, crash more than adults – and that summertime marks an increase in fatal teen crashes,” said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. “Per our analysis, for every mile driven, new drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash than adults.”

According to the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, about 72 percent of teen drivers between 16 and 18 admitted to having engaged in at least one of the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days: • Driving 10mph over the speed limit on a residential street (47%)
- Driving 15mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)
- Texting while driving (35%)
- Red-light running (32%)
- Aggressive driving (31%)
- Drowsy driving (25%)
- Driving without a seatbelt (17%) “Fundamentally, parents are the best line of defense to keep everyone safe behind the wheel,” McKinley said. “It’s important to educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, and the impairing effects of alcohol and marijuana. But that’s not enough: Parents need to refrain from engaging in risky driving behaviors to demonstrate just how serious these issues are.”
Summer 2020 has the potential to prove particularly deadly for teens, with schools closed, activities curtailed, summer jobs canceled, and COVID-19 restrictions gradually lifting. To keep roads safer this summer, AAA encourages parents to: • Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, including speeding, impairment, and distracted driving.
- Teach by example, and minimize risky behavior when driving.
- Establish a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.
- Conduct at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with their teen. To support parents in conducting practice driving sessions during COVID-19 and beyond, AAA is providing a free four-page guide to help parents coach their teens on how to drive safely. “Coaching Your New Driver – An In-Car Guide for Parents” offers behind-the-wheel lesson plans, including a variety of “DOs and DON’Ts” to make the learning experience as helpful as possible. For parents, the guide can be beneficial as they coach their teens on a variety of routes, building on their formal behind-the-wheel training.
TeenDriving.AAA.com has a variety of tools to help prepare parents and teens for the dangerous summer driving season. The online AAA StartSmart Parent Session also offers excellent resources for parents on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage their teen’s overall driving privileges. Teens preparing for the responsibility of driving should enroll in a driver education program that teaches how to avoid driver distraction and other safety skills. Parents can find a driving school they can trust at AAA.com/DrivingSchool.

About the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research is used to develop educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org.

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May 28, 2020
FSA and CSU Team up to Conduct CFAP Webinar
Navigating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and other COVID-19 Agricultural Issues

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on April 17, 2020. CFAP will use funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA existing authorities. This $16 billion immediate relief program includes direct support to agricultural producers. CSU Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency have teamed up to conduct a CFAP webinar.

The webinar will be held Monday, June 1st from 6:00pm to 8:30pm MST. Topics to be addressed are: • The mechanics of CFAP including signup procedures and required documents
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan for farmers and ranchers
- Maintaining supply chains during a pandemic
- Commodity outlook post COVID-19. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtcOGoqzsiE9R41Or-NUWVbW5D-E1Q4Dq7

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The webinar is free but limited to the first 500 that register. The session will be recorded and made available to anyone who can’t attend the live webinar.

For more information, contact Brent Young at 970-580-2204 or email at.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Brandon Terrazas at 720-544-2885 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

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May 28, 2020
Mayor Hancock to Host Regional Town Hall

Denver. CO – Mayor Michael B. Hancock will host a regional town hall with local officials from metro area municipalities and entities to discuss coordinated responses to COVID-19.

What: Join regional elected officials to learn about local responses to COVID-19. Attendees will include Mayor Hancock, Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet, Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter, RTD Board of Directors Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Susana Cordova and Colorado Municipal League Executive Director Kevin Bommer.

When: Thursday, May 28, 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.

Where: The Regional Town Hall will be accessible via video conference at https://bit.ly/2Tw91TZ or through call-in at 408.418.9388 (access code 965 406 133). Call-in numbers are also available in Spanish (720.865.2133) and Vietnamese (720.865.2688).

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May 27, 2020
Dinosaur National Monument Increases Recreational Access to Include Camping and River Use

Dinosaur, CO and Jensen, UT – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Dinosaur National Monument is increasing recreational access to camping and river use. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning Sunday, June 7, 2020, Dinosaur will reopen access to campgrounds, backcountry, and river use:  

• River Trips including permitted daily trips through Split Mountain Canyon and multi day trips on the Green and Yampa rivers will resume. Most launch dates have already been assigned for the 2020 season. Any remaining river permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through Recreation.gov.

• Developed campgrounds at Split Mountain, Green River, Echo Park, Deerlodge Park, and Gates of Lodore will be open for camping and have drinking water and restrooms available. Rainbow Park Campground will also reopen, with vault toilets and no drinking water. Camping fees will be charged.

• Backcountry camping will resume, free permits are required and will be issued starting June 7. Campers need to be familiar with the monument’s backcountry regulations and know where they will enter, exit, and camp prior to requesting a permit. All backcountry permits will be issued by phone (435) 781-7700 x0 from 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Permits will then be emailed to requester.

• All monument roads and trails are open. 

• Restrooms are available in all developed campgrounds; along the Harpers Corner Road at most scenic overlooks, and at the Canyon Visitor Center front patio in Colorado; and along the Cub Creek Road at Josie’s Cabin, Split Mountain Boat Ramp, and at the top of the Fossil Discovery Trail near the Quarry Exhibit Hall parking lot in Utah.

• Drinking water is available in all developed campgrounds except Rainbow Park; at the Canyon Visitor Center front patio in Colorado; and at the Quarry Visitor Center back patio and top of the Fossil Discovery Trail near the Quarry Exhibit Hall parking lot in Utah.

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

• All monument visitor centers, and the Quarry Exhibit Hall remain closed.

• All ranger-guided programs including night sky programs are suspended until further notice.

“The camping and river recreation at Dinosaur are outstanding – I and the employees of the monument are excited that access to these spectacular places will resume,” said monument superintendent Paul Scolari. “We commend our local communities and visitors for their continuing patience as we increase access to the park in phases and thank local public health and elected officials for their support as we have navigated management of the monument through the COVID response.”

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Dinosaur National Monument, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers. While many areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders: Best practice precautions include the practice of social distancing, avoiding crowds, wearing face coverings if appropriate, and avoiding high-risk outdoor activities.

We will notify the public of changing conditions, access, and activities by providing updates on our website www.nps.gov/dino and social media channels @DinosaurNPS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Updates about overall NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

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May 27, 2020
Colorado restaurants can open Wednesday at reduced capacity

DENVER (AP) _ Restaurants in Colorado can re-open at reduced capacity this week and day camps will be allowed to open next week, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday.

Restaurants in spots like El Paso and Routt counties have already been allowed to re-open under special approvals by state health officials. Restaurants elsewhere in Colorado will be able open starting Wednesday at 50 percent of their posted occupancy limit but cannot have more than 50 customers at a time, Polis said.

“Diners will have more space between tables and at many restaurants, more opportunities to eat outside. The safest thing anyone can do is stay home whenever possible, but for those who want to shop and dine we want to make sure it can be done as safely as possible,” he said.

Polis said children’s day camps and youth sports camps will be able to open on June 1 but residential overnight camps would be closed through June.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.

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May 27, 2020

UI Virtual Town Halls Scheduled for Friday, May 29th

On Friday, May 29th, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) will hold two UI Virtual Town Halls. Participants will be able to join online or by phone. General topics to be addressed in this week’s Town Hall include out of state wages, tips for claim filing, returning to work and eligibility, backdating and how to access online self-services. To address questions on job refusals and eligibility, a new “Return to Work” fact sheet has been added to coloradoui.gov and can be found here.

WHAT: UI Virtual Town Halls

WHEN: Friday, May 29, 2020; English at 9:15 AM; Spanish at 11:30 AM.

TO REGISTER Online at coloradoui.gov and via the registrations forms links –

English Town Hall registration here

Spanish Town Hall registration here

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May 27, 2020

Denver mail hub stays open despite coronavirus closure order

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (AP) _ A U.S. Postal Service distribution facility in Denver that handles 10 million pieces of mail a day for Colorado and Wyoming remained open Friday despite being ordered to shut down by city health officials because of a coronavirus outbreak investigation.

The agency said it is complying with federal safety guidelines and working with city officials to address their concerns.

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment said it ordered the Postal Service to shut down the facility after the Postal Service refused to provide it with necessary information and inspectors were refused entry beyond the post office service counter on Wednesday.

“This was a measure of last resort, and the only remaining tool we have to get the facility management’s attention and secure public health compliance during a pandemic,” the department said in a statement.

The inspectors were turned away by a “random employee” because they turned up at the secure federal facility unannounced and did not try to arrange for access despite already being in talks with the Postal Service about the situation, USPS spokesman David Rupert said.

The 840,000-square-foot (78,039-square-meter) mail facility, the fourth largest in the United States, has about 2,000 workers who process incoming and outgoing mail for 6.3 million people in Colorado and Wyoming using about 900 trucks. The last time a worker there was confirmed to have COVID-19 was May 2, and there is no current outbreak there, Rupert said.

Danica Lee, the director of the health department’s inspections division, told KUSA-TV that there have been five cases at the facility.

Rupert confirmed that figure but said the Postal Service relies on public health officials to tell it when an employee has tested positive. He said it has participated in contact tracing investigations when it has been notified about cases.

In its order, Denver officials said the facility should remain closed until the facility can be sanitized and safety procedures, including employee being checked for symptoms and being required to wear face coverings, are followed. They also want the Postal Service to report any new coronavirus cases within 24 hours.

The Postal Service adheres to U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines and provides masks to all employees, but only those people whose work cannot avoid being within 6 feet (2 meters) of others are required to wear them, Rupert said. Employee screenings are not required by the CDC, he said.

While local health departments have shut down essential businesses like supermarkets because of outbreaks, the Postal Service says its mission is protected by federal law during times of emergency. Shutting down the mail hub would disrupt the delivery of such things as stimulus checks, medicine, mail ballots for the June 30 primary election as well as letters, Rupert said.

“We realize more than ever how important connection is. No one does connection better than the U.S. Postal Service,” he said.

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May 27, 2020

Colorado Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife share Memorial Day outdoor resources

DENVER — As many of us head outdoors for the holiday, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) want to remind Coloradans to recreate responsibly and stay close to home. DNR and CPW continue to provide resources to point Coloradans towards information on open campgrounds, trails, and best practices for recreating over Memorial Day Weekend during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know Coloradans love spending time outdoors and that getting outside hiking, fishing, biking with close friends and family has been an important release and diversion during COVID-19,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. ”My Department has created some helpful resources for Coloradans as they think about weekend plans, which will most likely be different from previous Memorial Days. We hope Coloradans enjoy a needed three-day break, but remain considerate of our neighbors and communities as we navigate our outdoor activities together during this pandemic.”

“We’re proud to have kept our Colorado State Parks open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and to have reopened camping at nearly all of our state park campgrounds and many state wildlife areas,” said Dan Prenzlow, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We encourage everyone to go live life outside this weekend, and if doing that brings you to one of your nearby state parks, please be safe while you’re visiting. We’re glad to get folks out on the trails, on their boats or camping with us. Please know that a few areas remain closed and you may not have access to all of the facilities you are used to. Check our website or call before you go to make your visit as enjoyable and safe as possible.”

Here are something things to think about this weekend:

Don’t plan for your typical Memorial Day weekend; being in a pandemic means recreating close to home, keeping your group size small, and maintaining social distancing.
If you do plan to travel use extra caution, minimize interactions and bring everything you need before you go.
To find out the latest on what’s open or not check out DNR”s one-stop-shop. It has connections to all Federal, Tribal, State and Local resources: Outdoor Recreation Resources | COVID-19
Planning on going for a hike or nearby mountain bike ride? Check out COTREX, Colorado’s official trails smartphone app and website. It has the latest COVID-19 related closures and can help you find nearby alternatives if your favorite trailhead is busy: trails.colorado.gov
Scored a campsite at your favorite state park? Check out Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s outdoor etiquette tips before you go.
Late planner but feel a need to camp under the stars this weekend? Go to https://www.cpwshop.com/ and see what is available.
See more good outdoor recreation and camping tips here or our Outdoor Recreation FAQ here.

Please note that many Colorado State Parks and National Forest campgrounds have limited facilities, so plan accordingly before you go. In addition, picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds and designated swim beaches remain closed under the Governor’s Safer- at-Home order. Check out our resources to get the latest updates for an enjoyable holiday weekend. Above all else, be kind to others. Remember, we’re all in this together and we all need a bit of stress relief. Keep your distance, be courteous, and perhaps send a wave to your neighbors when you pass them on the sidewalk or trail. You never know how much they may need it!