Press Release

State distributes first allocation of experimental anti-viral treatment

DENVER, May 13, 2020: The Colorado State Unified Command Group (UCG) has received an initial shipment of the experimental anti-viral drug remdesivir from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate its benefit in improving recovery in patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms. The UCG received enough doses of the drug to treat approximately 100 patients, and began distributing the drug this week to eight hospital systems that serve Coloradans across the state. 

State Unified Command Center and Broomfield Public Health collaborate on targeted testing strategies at long-term care facilities

CENTENNIAL/BROOMFIELD: The State of Colorado Unified Command Center (UCC) is reviewing the processes and procedures for targeted COVID-19 testing at long-term care facilities. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) epidemiologists and infection prevention specialists are advising the UCC on ways to modify the testing procedures and minimize contact among residents and staff at the sites where testing is conducted. 

Alternative care site update on operational dates

The Colorado state Unified Command Group (UCG) updated the operational dates for the alternative care sites in Colorado as hospitals continue to meet patient care and capacity needs. These five alternative care sites are medical shelters that will be used to provide medical care if the hospital capacity is exceeded.  

“These sites are like the state’s healthcare insurance policy to ensure we are prepared to take care of our Colorado community,” stated Unified Command Center Incident Commander Mike Willis.  

Confirmed Alternative Care Sites

State announces Residential Outbreak Task Force 

In Colorado, more than 50% of the COVID-19 related deaths have been among older adults and people with disabilities who resided in high-density, group-living settings, like nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In order to reduce the spread of illness and number of deaths in these settings, the Colorado Unified Command Center (UCC) has launched a Residential Care Task Force.

State of Colorado Receives Second Battelle System

Decontamination Unit will be located in Montrose

(DENVER) May 2, 2020:  The Colorado Unified Coordination Center received a second Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System that cleans and decontaminants used N95 respirators for reuse. The system will be installed in Montrose, Colorado at The Friendship Hall.  The system will be returned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when no longer needed.

State health department releases data from symptom tracker survey, expands tracker functionality

(DENVER) April 29, 2020: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is releasing data from about 1,000 Coloradans who took a short survey designed to track symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, when people identify that they have symptoms of COVID-19, such as shortness of breath, cough or fever, the symptom tracker will now offer users text messages that help them manage their symptoms. Texts are only sent to users who consent to receive text messages.