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DENVER (KDVR)– Governor Jared Polis provided an update on COVID-19 in Colorado Monday afternoon, during which he announced that he is extending the state’s mask mandate for another 30 days. 

The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate surged above 12% on Sunday. Many counties in Colorado have moved to a Safer at Home Level Orange on the COVID-19 dial.

“COVID-19 is extremely prevalent in Colorado right now,” Polis said during the conference.
Polis highlighted the more than 3,550 new cases Monday and mounting hospitalizations.

“We’re at 1,060 hospitalizations. So for now the third day in a row over 1000 hospitalizations; which it’s not straining our hospital capacity yet but what we are alarmed about is that trend. This up from 115 hospitalizations two months ago,” Polis said.

The governor said the state is doing its part to slow the spread by increasing testing and PPE for those on the front lines but he wants us to do what we can. Including keeping on our masks and not socializing with people outside of our immediate family.

After news of effective vaccine results from Pfizer, Polis also vowed to follow the state’s vaccination plan, getting the treatment to healthcare workers and people in nursing homes first.

“For most of us, this means early next year for inoculation. It could be January, February or March. It could go into April or May as enough of us are able to get the shot, enough to kind of end the pandemic.”

The governor was asked if he would look into further enforcing distancing efforts. He said, “The grim reaper is the ultimate enforcer. More Coloradans will die if Coloradans don’t simply cancel their social plans and wear a mask in public. I know that we can do it. We did it before and we can do it again.”