Gov. Jared Polis gives update on COVID-19 in Colorado, Dec. 12 — KRDO

4 min readDec 12, 2020

COLORADO (KRDO) — Recent data shows the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Colorado appears to be leveling out. However, Governor Jared Polis said Friday, that’s no excuse for Coloradans to let their guard down.

At least 4,678 new cases and 1,559 hospitalizations were reported in Colorado on Friday.

“There’s been a leveling out. It hasn’t gotten worse, but it hasn’t gotten much better,” Polis said.

Meantime, Colorado is anticipating 46,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine within the next week and 95,600 from Moderna soon after.

Polis said locations receiving the vaccines will have a deadline to administer them, or risk losing access.

“All of the entities who are receiving it, have to administer it within 72 hours or we’ll take it back and use it for someone else.”

Parkview Medical, Penrose St. Francis and UC Health Memorial Central have each been allocated between 1,000 to 3,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, depending on location.

Those hospitals, along with UC Health Memorial North and the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo anticipate doses from Moderna to follow shortly after.

County health departments in El Paso, Pueblo, Teller and Fremont have also been allocated doses.

“Our ability to quickly vaccinate folks and report those doses administered is going to be very important in reaching more immunity levels, saving lives, returning to normal.”

Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Polis advised Coloradans to avoid travel if at all possible. He said if people do plan to visit with loved ones, to begin quarantine at least 10 days in advance.

EVERETT, Wash. — In Snohomish County, a surge in cases is impacting the Everett Gospel Mission, where dozens of people tested positive for coronavirus.

Sylvia Anderson, the CEO at the mission, said there were no positive cases identified up until the last week of November. An outbreak was discovered and then turned tragic.

“Unfortunately, somebody did pass away, and so that is very sad because the community at the mission and those who are experiencing homelessness on the street, it is a very tight-knit, close community,” Anderson said.

Everett Gospel Mission lost one resident to the virus after an outbreak at the men’s shelter. Snohomish County continues to see case counts soar.

“We had one asymptomatic case really early on, and the mission was tested and the staff was tested.”

The coronavirus test results revealed a total of 47 people positive, including three staff members, according to Anderson.

Heather Thomas, a spokesperson for Snohomish Health District, said she could confirm there were at least 27 individuals from the Everett Gospel Mission who tested positive. She added that the health district is still going over the test results, and updated numbers, along with more information, will likely be available next week.

“This is an active outbreak investigation, “ Thomas wrote in an email Friday afternoon.

Anderson said, “The protocol just really helped us stay on top as much as we could as far as separating the folks who were positives from the folks who were negative.”

Residents who tested positive were able to be transferred to the county’s isolation and quarantine facility.

“I’m glad that we did not have to create homelessness because there’s an outbreak. I think it’s very important for people to realize this virus is hitting us all,” she said.

Fifteen residents who have recovered are already back at the mission, according to Anderson, who expects the remainder will be back in the building next Friday.

Anderson noted that shelters are providing crucial services for some of the most vulnerable in the community during the pandemic, adding, “We don’t want people who are experiencing COVID symptoms or who are asymptomatic moving around our community and not knowing they’re sick or that they could potentially make somebody else sick. I just hope people understand that we’re part of the community, and we are doing our best to provide a safe place for all in our community.”

Due to COVID-19, capacity at Everett Gospel Mission has been reduced from about 120 spaces to 70 spaces to ensure residents can spread out.

“We’re continuing to provide 80 to 100 meals a day outside of our mission, and we don’t want to stop that process,” said Anderson.

Gov. Jared Polis gives update on COVID-19 in Colorado, Dec. 12 — KRDO

Written by Gallads