El Paso County health officials update community on coronavirus plan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- There are now two presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Colorado.
Gov. Jared Polis announced the positive tests Thursday, but city and county officials say their biggest message is "don't panic."
Over the past few weeks, some in Colorado have chosen to self-quarantine and others are still being tested. But there are no cases in El Paso County.
So far, patients have been treated for the coronavirus in over a dozen states, with Colorado now investigating two presumptive positive cases.
"The risk of contracting the virus remains low. There is no reason to panic, but please know we are taking it seriously," said Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers.
Suthers and five other city and state leaders held a meeting Thursday to present plans in the event the outbreak hits the Pikes Peak region.
"Public health has a team of highly skilled epidemiologists working to minimize the impacts of this disease in our community," said Commissioner Mark Waller.
But Dr. Robin Johnson, the El Paso County Public Health Medical Director says the best way to be prepared is to know how to prevent the spread.
"We know that it is spread through droplets. That is the spray that is produced when we cough or sneeze. So when we talk about avoiding our close contacts that's usually about the distance that a sneeze or cough would spread those droplets and it's about 6 feet," she said.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough and shortness of breath, usually appearing between 2 to 14 days after exposure.
"If you are ill, we are asking that you stay home, because the best way you can prevent this is by you distancing yourself from other people who are healthy," Dr. Johnson said.
But city leaders say it's all about preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.
"If we do this correctly and all do our part we're going to be just fine moving forward," Waller said.
Watch the news conference from Gov. Polis below:
