As expected, Governor Polis extended Colorado’s stay-at-home order. And to continue the theme of confusion created by disparate government agencies, this order extends through Sunday, April 26 even though Mayor Hancock extended Denver’s stay-at-home order through Thursday, April 30. Simplifya will honor the Denver order.
The Worst is Behind Us
If you saw the press conference, you saw Governor Polis try to explain the inconsistencies between federal, state, and local guidance by pointing out how different areas are impacted to varying degrees. He’s referring in part to the University of Washington model I shared last week that predicted peak hospital usage for Colorado on April 17th. Based on the latest data, the model was revised and the peak was moved to April 8th (today). If true, it means COVID-19 in Colorado is peaking earlier than expected and earlier than most areas of the country. That’s a good thing.
Cautious Optimism
While this development means the worst is likely behind us (Coloradans, that is), it does not mean we’ve beaten the virus. It simply means the virus is no longer spreading at an accelerating rate. The drastic steps we’ve taken have flattened the curve, not forced it down to zero. COVID-19 continues to afflict thousands in our state, hundreds of which were severe enough to require hospitalization. We must continue to be diligent about protecting each other and ourselves. It’s just a little easier to do that knowing that our efforts are paying off!
Thanks Rick!