Governor Polis reminds Coloradans to wear masks as Safer at Home begins

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Governor Polis reminds Coloradans to wear masks as Safer at Home begins

The Safer at Home order starts May 9th. On Friday, the governor held a news conference to remind people about the critical role of wearing masks.

“All Coloradans should be wearing masks in public, it’s the smart thing to do and Coloradans are very smart,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Not only are masks critical for protecting ourselves and those around us, they are a key to safely opening up more and more of our economy and society. We are going to be in this for the long haul, and wearing masks is an easy step for all of us to take.”

The governor spoke about four main components that will make Safer at Home successful.

Being successful during Safer-at-Home phase has four main components:

  • • For most of the population, continuing to stay at home most of the time.
  • • For seniors & those with chronic health conditions, it means staying at home unless absolutely necessary.
  • • Stepping up testing, containment, and tracing.
  • • Wearing masks at all times when in public.

The ColoradoMaskProject.com was touted as a helpful resource for people who want to buy or make a mask. The site has a list of mask retailers along with instructions on making mask.

The state will also be offering resources to families and business in a series of initiatives.

Can Do Colorado: www.candocolorado.org to learn more. This site is designed to provide guidance an tips to businesses to help increase the number of people who can still telecommute in the days and weeks ahead.

Connect to Care Jobs: connecttocarejobs.com. This site was started to match health care job seekers with immediate openings in residential care setting. Job seekers can also create a profile on the site.

Also, the governor talked about people who have lost health insurance because of a job loss. Coloradans should check to see if they qualify for Health First Colorado -- Colorado’s Medicaid Program -- and/or the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) if they have dependents. Visit CO.gov/PEAK to find out if you’re eligible. You can also apply by mail, at your county’s department of health and human services, at an application site, or over the phone by calling 1-800-221-3943. If you’re not eligible for these public programs, you can still sign up for health insurance on the individual market at connectforhealthco.com or by calling 855-752-6749.

Restaurants will remain closed other than pickup and delivery. When asked about a potential opening date Polis said the state hoped to evaluate data somewhere around May 22 or 23. If there is positive news out of the data, the governor said restaurants could be open by Memorial Day weekend.