Gov. Polis deploys Colorado National Guard to nursing homes, mandates masks for workers at critical businesses
DENVER (KRDO) -- Gov. Jared Polis provided an update on the status of COVID-19 in Colorado and made two big announcements during a news conference Friday afternoon -- he's deploying the state's National Guard to three nursing homes to help with testing, and he has ordered workers at critical businesses to wear masks.
Watch below:
Gov. Polis announced he would be deploying the Colorado National Guard to the state's three largest nursing homes to help with testing and coronavirus prevention. He also ordered all long-term care facilities to develop long-term isolation plans in the event of a positive case.
“We need to really up our game in practice in all of the senior care facilities across our state,” Polis says. He has also expanded the State Health order to add extra screenings before anyone enters a long term care facility.
Arguably, the biggest announcement out of Friday's briefing was the executive order stating all critical business employees, which includes grocery store workers, will have to wear face masks while on the clock. The Governor saying while many are already doing this, he has been receiving several complaints from residents saying some workers aren't. This executive order will make sure it will happen.
Polis says, "Most employers and workers are already doing this and we salute them for their proactive steps but we don't want to prolong the pain for everybody else just because some aren't."
KRDO reached out to the Governor's Office for clarification on which businesses are categorized as critical and are waiting to hear back. However, according to the public health order 20-24 issued in late March, it lists dozens of businesses that are defined as critical. From pharmacies, liquor stores, law enforcement and several more. For a full list of critical businesses click here.
