Colorado Prepares For Coronavirus Surge, Adding Thousands Of Hospital Beds, Stocking Up On Medical Equipment
Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday that the state will close schools through April 30, and that Colorado had placed a large order for medical equipment to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Almost a million public and private school children in Colorado will not be returning to their school buildings until April 30 at least, as the state battles to contain the new coronavirus.
That closure extends past the statewide stay-at-home order, currently set to end on April 11.
Polis said the stay-at-home order is the most extreme order he’s issued to help eliminate the spread of the virus, and said if people stay home and practice social distancing he may not have to extend the order. But even if the order isn’t extended, Polis stressed that doesn’t mean life will go back to normal.
"It doesn't mean it's the exact same normal that it was that we took for granted three months ago, six months ago," he said. Polis added that he wants to return to less restrictive measures sooner rather than later.
"But the most effective way to reduce this spread, absent effective mass testing and tracing and quarantining, which are not yet in place, is to limit person-to-person interactions," he said. "That's what we're doing as a state. And that's what you're doing to save lives."
Polis said he considers three primary factors in making policy decisions around Colorado’s coronavirus efforts.
He said those are, first, when the viral spread will be under control; then, when the state’s medical surge capacity can be built up to prepare for those who will be sickened by COVID-19; and finally, resolving supply chain issues around personal protective equipment and tests.
Scott Bookman, incident commander with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said he expects to see a surge in COVID-19 cases in hospitals between April and July. He said the state will set up additional hospital beds in places like arenas to help alleviate the pressure on hospitals. This will also ensure patients receive the proper care at the proper time.
“It will look similar to what you are seeing in New York City right now in Central Park,” Bookman said.
Bookman said the state is working to have at least 15,000 beds ready by May 15 to treat patients who need some form of care for COVID-19.
He said that includes, for example, 5,000 ICU beds in hospitals by April 18. Hospitals will be used to treat critically ill patients who need ventilators and dialysis. Other treatment centers will be used to treat less critically ill patients like those who need a doctor or nurse to monitor their health daily. Beds will also be available for people who are asymptomatic and those experiencing homelessness who need to quarantine.
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