page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
section_title: April
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado / Timeline / April
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Konnor Ewing, a 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard aircraft structural maintenance mechanic, and Airman 1st Class John Boyle, 233rd Space Group security forces specialists in Greeley Colo., deliver meals to guests at a hotel in Denver, April 16, 2020. Members of the Colorado National Guard have been brought on to serve in one of a multitude of task forces including helping those who otherwise would not have a place to stay during COVID 19. Troops are deployed around the state in various capacities to support state and local officials combat the Corona Virus Pandemic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer)
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic reached Colorado on March 5, 2020, when the state's first two cases were confirmed. On August 29, 2020 Colorado public health authorities reported 266 COVID-19 cases, increasing the state's cumulative total of new cases since the start of the pandemic to 57,041 confirmed cases. Colorado's death toll is 1,944, with seven new deaths reported over the past 24 hours.
  The three day moving average of new COVID-19 cases in Colorado decreased from 219 on June 1st to 128 on June 15th, but rose sharply during the month of July, reaching 713 new cases per day on July 24. In response to July's upward trend Governor Jared Polis issued a statewide mask mandate in mid-July to avoid the sharp surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths observed in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia and other states where mask wearing is optional. A CDPHE web page explains the mask mandate and the science supporting the use of masks to reduce spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19. As of August 29, six weeks after the governor's mask mandate was issued, the 7 day moving average of new cases in Colorado has dropped to 280 cases per day.
context_section_description: On April 1, Guidelines for patient prioritizing are made, with 3,342 cases, and 620 people hospitalized with COVID-19, Doctors could be forced to decide which patients to treat. About the new guideline, Dr. Matthew Wynia, director of the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus said, "This is statewide guidance on how to do triage in the most ethically defensible way,"  Projections that Colorado will hit its peak of COVID-19 cases on April 17, at which time there could be a shortage of nearly 2,000 hospital beds and nearly 500 intensive care unit beds even with the present preventive measures being taken, there are new efforts that could close that gap.
  On April 3, Governor Jared Polis asked Coloradans to wear non-medical, cloth face masks when going out.
  On April 5, Colorado officials set guidelines for deciding who gets care in case of coronavirus surge. Based on a four-tier system, the comprehensive 22-page document will prevent health care workers from making decisions about care based on gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, and other non-health related factors. The document states that decisions should not be made based on a person's status or position. Colorado sees significant declines in air pollution due to a decline in driving during coronavirus outbreak.
  On April 6, Colorado's mountain communities are dealing with high altitude issues concerning coronavirus. By moving their patients to lower altitudes, they hope that their patients will need less supplemental oxygen. Dr. Jason Hogan, an emergency medicine physician at Gunnison Valley Health, has started transporting patients from Gunnison, at an altitude of 7,700 feet, to Montrose at 5,800 feet, and Grand Junction at 4,500 feet, to help with the significant amount of oxygen they need. Aspen Valley Hospital's Dr. Barry Hammaker chief medical officer said they are transporting patients to Denver and Grand Junction. Colorado mountain communities due to the high skier/tourist population became hotspots for the new coronavirus early on in the pandemic, closing ski resorts and asking tourists to return home. Governor Jared Polis in a special address extends the stay-at-home order to April 26, 2020. "If there is any way to safely end it sooner, then we will," Polis added. "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."
  On April 7, tourists and second homeowners could face 18 months in jail or a fine of up to five thousand dollars if they visit Gunnison County in Colorado during the pandemic. Officials initiated the public health order stating non-residents and tourists must stay out to help slow the spread of the virus. In the statement, the public health director said people from lower altitudes were at greater risk for COVID-19 complications than people who live in the high-altitude.
  On April 9, the Texas attorney general's office wrote a letter to the director of Gunnison county's Department of Health and Human Services, saying that the Colorado county's call for all non-residents to leave the county is unconstitutional. The letter said, “While the order contains other laudable measures aimed at protecting public health, its patent discrimination against non-resident homeowners – including Texans who own homes in Gunnison County – runs afoul of the United States Constitution.”  Senator Kerry Donovan, said it's better for people to stay home, where they have a support system in place. The National Western Complex becomes a shelter for homeless men during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  On April 10, Attorney General Phil Weiser supports Gunnison County public health order as does Governor Polis' stay-at-home executive order, telling non-residents to leave. The "8 p.m. Howl" was reported to have spread in popularity throughout the entire United States.  Started two weeks before, the nightly howl received support from Polis and media coverage.
  On April 11, at least 50 employees at a meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado have contracted Coronavirus, and 
caption: Members of the Colorado Air National Guard delivering meals to people staying in a motel in Denver.
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