Coronavirus Critical News Updates

March 24

Coronavirus now linked to at least 9 deaths in Colorado, including 4 in El Paso County alone

Recent tests showed a Gunnison County man in his 50s who died earlier this month also had contracted coronavirus, The Colorado Sun reports.

The new coronavirus has now been linked to at least nine deaths in Colorado as the outbreak of the disease rapidly worsens.

An El Paso County man in his 80s was killed by COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, health officials announced on Monday night. And recent tests showed a Gunnison County man in his 50s who died earlier this month also had contracted coronavirus.

“The individual was tested for COVID-19 by the coroner’s office after his passing a week and a half ago,” Gunnison County Health and Human Services in a news release Monday. “Health and Human Services just received notice that the test did in fact come back positive.”

El Paso County has seen at least four deaths from the coronavirus.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Colorado is now well over 700 across 31 of Colorado’s 64 counties. At least 72 people have been hospitalized.

About 6,200 people have been tested for the virus.

Colorado health officials say there are likely thousands of people in the state who are infected with the virus but that they haven’t been tested because of a lack of resources.

March 23

Curbside Pick Up Instituted in Recreational Dispensaries Starting March 24

On March 22, Governor Jared Polis signed an Executive Order D 2020 013, ordering Colorado Employers to Reduce In-Person Workforce by Fifty-Percent Due to the Presence of COVID-19 in the State, ”which provides that effective March 24, 2020, Medical Marijuana Stores can offer both sales in the Licensed Premises and “curbside” pickup, but which limits Retail Marijuana Stores to only “curbside” pickup. This effectively means, that today, March 23, 2020 is the last day you will be able to purchase retail (recreational) marijuana in person at our stores, prior to switching to “curbside pick-up” only on Tuesday, March 24.

Beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020 we will be enabling “curbside pick-up” at all of our Retail (recreational) Marijuana locations. You will be required to place your orders online or over the phone prior to arriving  at the location. While we are diligently working on implementing secure online and card based payment solutions, at this time we remain cash-only. We encourage you to bring exact change to minimize your wait time at pick up and reduce traffic congestion.

Please note, this restriction applies only to Retail Marijuana Stores and our Medical Marijuana Stores will continue to comply with the six (6) foot social distancing requirement between all employees and patrons and enhanced cleaning procedures, as well as all relevant CDC and CDPHE recommended guidance in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.

Because “curbside pick-up” is a new and untested concept, as it applies to the marijuana industry, we ask for your patience as we work through the operational challenges and encourage you to monitor our website for important updates.

Our focus remains on the health and safety of our customers, patients and employees, while we are navigating these challenging times and continuing to serve the communities which we call home.

Sincerely,
Silver Stem Fine Cannabis

March 19

Colorado’s fourth coronavirus death reported in Crowley County

A Crowley County man with coronavirus has died, health officials said Thursday. It is the fourth such death reported in Colorado, according to FOX Denver.

The man was elderly and had multiple chronic health issues, according to the Otero County Health Department, which also oversees Crowley County.

Richard Ritter, the executive director of the OCHD, said his staff is investigating and ordering quarantines.

Three other coronavirus deaths have been reported in Colorado: two in El Paso County and one in Weld County.

March 18

Colorado’s coronavirus count rises to 216 with confirmation of 33 new cases

Colorado health officials on Wednesday announced 33 more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with six more patients being hospitalized, bringing to 216 the number of total cases statewide, The Denver Post reports.

More than 2,300 people have now been tested, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, even as officials acknowledge the number of positive cases is likely far higher than their numbers indicate. A total of 26 people are hospitalized, and two people have died in the state.

Denver’s 33 positive cases represent the most in a Colorado county, but Eagle, Gunnison and Pitkin counties have significantly higher per-capita rates, state data shows. Twenty of the state’s 64 counties now have at least one case, while the overall COVID-19 positive rate is 3.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Testing thus far has not been able to keep pace with the number of people reporting symptoms, state health officials have acknowledged.

Eagle County health officials said in a news release Wednesday they expect to see hundreds, if not thousands, of cases in the mountain community. Officials recommended that visitors and tourists stay away from Eagle County, and instituted an order limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people as they urged people to stay home.