COLORADO — The statewide total of COVID-19 cases stands at 20,157 as of Tuesday afternoon, including 1,009 deaths. To date, 3,695 people have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic.
Check here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Colorado Springs and Pueblo have both set up hotlines for people to call with questions about COVID-19. In Colorado Springs, call 719-575-8888 or the United Way 2-1-1 hotline. In Pueblo, call 719-583-4444.
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Below, we're updating this blog with the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Colorado.
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Tuesday, May 12
4 p.m.| Latest COVID-19 numbers in Colorado
20,157 cases
3,695 hospitalized
57 counties
109,304 people tested
179 outbreaks
1,009 deaths
Find the latest information from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment here.
3:30 p.m. | Rocky Mountain National Park will begin phased reopening on May 27
Colorado’s most renowned national park will begin to slowly reopen its trails, campgrounds and wilderness areas to visitors starting Wednesday, May 27. Not much is known about what the phased reopening will look like, but a national park spokesperson said in a news release Tuesday they “continue to conduct a decision and planning process to coordinate a phased reopening” of the national park, warning that park operations and services will be much different this year.
1 p.m.| Colorado Parks and Wildlife gives update on campgrounds reopening
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are giving an update as some state parks begin to reopen its campgrounds.
12:50 p.m.|Walmart to give employees another round of cash bonuses for working during pandemic
Walmart announced Tuesday that it will give another round of cash bonuses to all of its hourly associates in the U.S. This includes hourly associates in stores, clubs, supply chain and offices, drivers, and assistant managers in stores and clubs.
9 a.m.| El Paso County Board of County Commissioners extend emergency distaster declaration
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners the local emergency declaration for 90 days, expiring Aug. 17. It passed unanimously to allow the county to continue receiving federal resources to assist in lowering the spread of COVID-19.
Commissioner Mark Waller addressed emails the board received about a bill people were worried about regarding mandatory testing. "There's a lot of stuff going when it comes to COVID-19...it's irresponsible, it's reckless, it's dangerous" for people sending out information that is not true, Waller said. He said the county would not mandate door-to-door testing.
6:35 a.m.| Polis says state will consider whether and how to reopen restaurants, ski areas, camps on May 25
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Monday outlined when the state will begin to look at how to reopen ski areas, restaurants and bars and announced that camping at state parks could begin Tuesday by reservation only. The remaining counties that had extended their stay-at-home orders let those expire after last Friday and moved into the safer-at-home phase, under which most of the state has been operating since late last month.
5:20 p.m.| IRS sets deadline for relief payment by direct deposit
The Treasury Department and the IRS are urging taxpayers who want to get their economic impact payments directly deposited to their bank accounts to enter their information online by Wednesday. The government has sent out about 130 million payments in the first four weeks of the program by both direct deposit and by mail.
Monday, May 11
4:30 p.m.| Campgrounds at most state parks and wildlife areas to reopen May 12
During a press conference Monday afternoon, Governor Jared Polis reported that most campgrounds at state parks and State Wildlife Areas will reopen May 12.
Per the Governor's guidance, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin working immediately with counties that are open and willing to receive visitors, the agency said. The reopening will be a phased approach with county coordination. Some parks may have limited opportunity and others may remain closed longer based on local needs.
Anyone hoping to camp must make a reservation. Visit cpwshop.com to make a reservation and find the latest updates on campgrounds from CPW.
4 p.m.| Latest COVID-19 numbers in Colorado
19,879 cases
3,363 hospitalized
57 counties
106,761 people tested
179 outbreaks
987 deaths
Find the latest information from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment here.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has suspended the business license of C&C Coffee and Kitchen in Castle Rock indefinitely after a viral video showing the business packed with customers and operating on Mother's Day.
Citing the agency's authority under the Food Protection Act to deem the business a public health hazard, Gov. Jared Polis made the announcement during a press briefing Monday. Polis said the suspension will likely last for 30 days.
The video, taken inside the coffee shop by Colorado Community Media, shows booths packed, tables filled and a line snaking out the door. None of the patrons or staff appeared to be wearing a mask or practicing social distancing.
Earlier Monday, the Tri-County Health Department had ordered the restaurant to close immediately and remain closed until they determine that C&C Coffee and Kitchen is in compliance with the public health order.
2:30 p.m.|White House briefing discussing testing capabilities in the U.S.
2 p.m.| Latest from Gov. Polis
The governor began the press conference by discussing his upcoming meeting with the president. He said that while he his concerned about traveling to Washington, he could not pass up the opportunity to meet with the President and hopefully advance the interests of Coloradans.
He said 981 Coloradans have died and the state is approaching 20,000 cases. Despite these numbers, the daily growth rate continues to drop and is below 1% for the first time.
Polis said he wants each step of reopening to be sustainable and that they need another couple of weeks to collect data. "I don't think any restaurant owner in our state wants to open for a week or two and then close," he said.
Polis then said that Colorado will allow camping at state parks again beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12. Camping at the parks will be by reservation only. You can go to cpwshop.comto make a reservation. Polis asked that if you do go camping, respect the counties that contain the parks .
The governor then discussed May 25. He said several decisions will be made on or by this date. Polis said on May 25 the state will make a decision on when restaurants can open to dine-in customers, as well as a decision on spring skiing and summer camps. He said while this date is the goal, it's possible they wont have a decision by then.
Polis then discussed the restaurant in Castle Rock that opened this past weekend in defiance of state orders. Video showed the restaurant, C&C Coffee and Kitchen, was packed with a line snaking out the door. Polis said the state will suspend the restaurant's license for at-least 30 days under the Colorado Food Protection Act.
.@GovofCO provides an update on COVID-19, including a timeline for the next steps. These are dates when Colorado might have the data to make informed decisions and are subject to change – depending on how well we all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. #DoingMyPartCO pic.twitter.com/f7E305EZ6P
— Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (@CDPHE) May 11, 2020
1:40 p.m.| Gov. Polis updates state on COVID-19 response
11:02 a.m. | Tri-County Health statement on C&C Breakfast
The Tri-County Health Department called the actions of C&C Breakfast and Korea Kitchen and its owner, which illegally allowed dozens of customers inside for sit-down dining and did not have social distancing or other measures in place on Sunday, disappointing and said it was undermining the efforts of other Douglas County restaurants and residents.
“We are disappointed that C&C Breakfast & Korean Kitchen, a Cookies and Crema Company in Castle Rock, has decided to ignore the Governor’s Safer at Home order and open up yesterday with no attention to social distancing,” spokesperson Samantha Decker said in a statement. “This decision runs the risk of undermining the impact that other Douglas County businesses and residents have achieved over the last seven weeks by taking various social distancing measures. As the entity charged with enforcing the Governor’s statewide Safer at Home Public Health Order, we will follow up with this restaurant to ensure that they, like other restaurants in the county, take appropriate steps to protect the public health, by limiting service to curbside and take-out service.”
10:45 a.m.| Gov. Jared Polis scheduled to give COVID-19 update at 1:30 p.m.
Gov. Jared Polis is scheduled to give an update on COVID-19 across the state today at 1:30 p.m. News5 will be streaming this on-air and online this afternoon.
10:15 a.m.| El Paso County Health Department updates Colorado Springs city council
The El Paso County Health Department gave an update on what the department has accomplished during March and April of this year in regards to COVID-19. The department said it used containment, mitigation, and capacity building strategies to help reduce the spread of the virus from the start. They explained their online dashboard showcasing the data of the virus in the county and that the recovered number of individuals refers to those who were not hospitalized.
Based off where the county is at now, the trend is leading the department to expect around 4,000 cases by the end of May. They said this is why residents must remain diligent e associated with long-term care facilities.
9:45 a.m.| Are virtual ceremonies enough to honor Colorado's class of 2020?
Just two months ago, members of the class of 2020 were envisioning the moment they’d fling their hats into the air and proudly accept their degrees in front of hundreds of cheering friends and family members. Now, much of that excitement has faded thanks to the novel coronavirus. Students are waiting to find out how schools will mark this milestone.
8 a.m.| US census stirs uncertainty for those displaced by virus
It’s not meant to be a trick question, but many filling out their 2020 U.S. census form struggle to answer: How many people were staying at your home on April 1? The pandemic has fostered sudden, unexpected dislocation, making a typically easy question confusing for the newly displaced.
6:45 a.m.| Specialty shops struggle during pandemic
Colorado Springs Relax the Back store is trying to find new ways to get customers inside. After weeks of waiting the doors are finally unlocked and the open sign is on once again. Owner Jeannette Graham and her husband bought the store a warehouse and two more shops in the Denver area in 2008 right when the recession began. She says they didn’t know any better back then about navigating these types of difficult times, but this is a whole other ballgame.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he is hopeful that restaurants, bars and campsites can open this month but that the data that presents itself in the fourth week of May – which will show how the “safer at home” phase has affected COVID-19 spread in the state – would be the guiding factor on when and how they open.
6 a.m.| The Review & Preview: What southern Coloradans need to know about COVID-19 this week
With some much information being announced daily about the COVID-19 pandemic, here is a review and preview of what is going on in southern Colorado as it pertains to the virus. Click the link above for a full recap.
5:30 a.m.| Dozens of people pack into Castle Rock restaurant in face of public health order
While hundreds of restaurants across Colorado continue offering take out and curbside service in accordance with the standing public health order, C&C Coffee and Kitchen in Castle Rock had other plans for Mother's Day. Video taken inside the coffee shop shows booths packed, tables filled and a line snaking out the door.
5:15 a.m.|Group planning in-person graduation celebration for D60 seniors
Coronavirus has upended plans for many of us, in particular the class of 2020. School District 60 in Pueblo has been working on virtual commencement ceremonies, but there's also a grassroots movement planning to hold an in-person celebration of the graduates this July.
5 a.m.| Vice President Mike Pence to self-isolate but will still work out of White House
Vice President Mike Pence will be undergoing self isolation as two White House staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Bloomberg News was the first to report Pence will self-isolate. Pence will continue to work out of the White House during his isolation.
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Get the latest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Click here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
People who have general questions about coronavirus disease 2019 can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 for answers in many languages. Email COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English.
