COVID-19 Update in Colorado
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed a number of coronavirus cases together with presumptive positive and indeterminate cases. As the number of positive coronavirus cases rose this week, cancellations and postponements of events both here and across the country were also on the rise.
Universities and colleges announced their plans of moving to online classes, and school districts prepared students and parents for that possibility. The NBA and the National Hockey League suspended their seasons, and college basketball conference tournaments were also aborted.
According to Fox 31 News, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday afternoon that all on-site dining will be prohibited at restaurants and bars in Colorado. The restrictions are part of an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Drive-thru, take-out and delivery services will still be permitted.
The order will remain in effect for 30 days. It goes into effect 8 a.m. Tuesday.
The order follows similar ones already in place in Denver and Summit counties.
The governor also ordered gyms, theaters (movie and performance), breweries, coffeehouses and casinos closed.
Additionally, all Department of Motor Vehicles offices will be closed from March 18 through April 18.
“We understand the gravity of this public health order, and the disruption it will cause,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan the executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “But we are weighing this disruption against the need to save lives. Based on the experience of other countries, the state of Washington, and modeling data, the sooner we begin social distancing measures on a large enough scale, the more quickly we can slow transmission of the virus, which translates into less people requiring hospitalization at the same time and more lives saved.”
Establishments can allow up to five people inside their business at one time to pick up food. However, they must be at least six feet away from one another.
The coronavirus outbreak is indeed an alarming global issue right now. Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent catching, and spreading the virus:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
And if you develop mild symptoms, the World Health Organization recommends staying at home.
The WHO said, "Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover." "Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses."
One problem with the coronavirus compared to similar diseases is that not every person carrying the disease will show significant symptoms. This could mean someone could spread the disease to someone else without them knowing it.
"Now it's not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen, and how many people in this country will become infected, and how many of those will develop severe or more complicated disease," CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said.
