Governor Jared Polis last night extended the statewide stay-at-home order until at least April 26th.
Polis said, “If there is any way to safely end it sooner, then we will. And likewise, if Coloradans aren’t staying at home and the numbers of the dead and dying continue to increase, then it could go longer.”
The Governor went on to say, “The sheer size of this crisis has forced us to take a series of drastic measures that we would have thought unthinkable, unimaginable just a month ago. By staying home, wearing a mask when you go out, practicing proper physical distancing and proper hygiene—you are literally saving lives.”
Polis spoke last night of the heartache he feels over the economic decline because of the shutdown orders. More than 4% of the state’s labor force has filed for unemployment in the last three weeks. But, he said, the cost of not closing down nonessential activities would be higher.
“Like many of you,” the Governor said, “I am beyond furious that we have been forced to shut down large portions of our economy—putting tens of thousands out of a job—because the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth doesn’t have the supplies and testing that we need to mount a proper, more targeted response.”
Governor Polis ended his speech to the state by saying, “There will be a day in the not-too-distant future that we can be together once again. But that day is not today. Nor is it tomorrow.”
On Friday, Governor Polis announced the Colorado Mask Campaign encouraging all Coloradans to wear non-medical cloth face coverings when leaving the home for essential business.
