Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday that an additional 16 cases were discovered on Wednesday, doubling the number known in Colorado in one day, and that community spread is now in Colorado’s high country.

The governor announced new guidance for schools, child care facilities, nursing homes and senior centers.

He also advised people over 60 years of age and those with chronic health issues stay out of Colorado’s high country and avoid large gatherings. He didn’t take the step of banning such gatherings, as has happened in Washington state, which limits groups to 250 or less. Community health care systems in resort and high country communities have limited capacity to deal with a surge of COVID-19 cases, the governor explained. 

The guidance for K-12 schools says that if a school has one or two confirmed cases, either from a teacher or student, the school must close for 72 hours for cleaning. A third case within a 30-day period will require a 14-day shutdown. If three schools in a district have confirmed cases, all schools in that district must close for one day for testing, cleaning and a public health investigation.

For nursing homes and senior centers, emergency rules that limit visitors and require testing for staff and visitors will be published Thursday.

This “will get worse before it gets better,” Polis said, pleading with Coloradans to take personal responsibility for their hygiene and health. Those suggestions are to stay home if you are sick; keep your children home if they are sick. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds, he said, noting that he had already washed his hands 11 times Wednesday. Don’t shake hands and keep a 6 to 8-foot distance from other people whenever possible.

“Our public health system alone cannot stop or even significantly slow the spread of the virus,” he said. “It requires individual responsibility and action.”

“We are on the verge of a tipping point,” Polis said, with more “community spread” in the weeks ahead. Community spread is when a confirmed case cannot be tied to someone who has traveled or been in contact with someone else who tested positive. Polis said it is disproportionately hitting resort and mountain communities first, based on the latest numbers.

Polis’ Thursday presser follows a flurry of activity from the executive branch on Wednesday to contain the virus and to keep the public informed on the state’s ongoing response.

“Transparency and trust are critical,” Polis said.

On Wednesday, that included the opening of the first drive-through testing station, operated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 8100 East Lowry Blvd. in east Denver. Additional drive-through locations are in the works, including on the Western Slope.

The CDPHE also announced midday Wednesday more “presumed positive” cases, in Pitkin, Eagle, Gunnison, Denver, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. Six of the cases were in Pitkin County. That same announcement said that the CDPHE now suspects “limited community spread” of the virus. Polis said the six additional cases in Pitkin County were tied to just one person, a visitor from Australia.

The Department of Labor and Employment in Wednesday released emergency rules around paid leave for workers who are being tested. The paid leave for workers in leisure and hospitality; food services; child care; education (including transportation), food service, and related work at educational establishments; home health, if working with elderly, disabled, ill, or otherwise high-risk individuals, and nursing homes and community living facilities. The emergency rules are in effect for 30 days.

Workers can get up to four days of paid leave while they are being tested for COVID-19 and only if they do not otherwise have sick leave from their employers. 

The paid leave also will not cover the time someone is quarantined after testing. 

The department of labor is looking at other options for wage replacement, including unemployment insurance.