Colorado governor issues statewide stay-at-home order after earlier opting not to

Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday said he was issuing a statewide stay-at-home order starting Thursday morning to try and slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The decision to enact the mandate comes just days after Polis said such an order was unenforceable and not the right direction for the state.

But on Monday and earlier on Wednesday counties in the Denver metro area essentially shut down by each enacting their own stay-at-home orders.

The order is the most significant step Polis has taken as he tries to make a dent in the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. He announced it just minutes after the deaths tied to the coronavirus in Colorado hit at least 19 and the number of confirmed cases ballooned over 1,000.

“We’re issuing the stay-at-home order to save lives,” he said.

Polis faced some criticism for not earlier enacting a stay-at-home order. Republicans, however, have said the mandates are unreasonable.

Details on the order were not immediately released. But it generally mandates Coloradans to stay home unless they need to leave for necessary business reasons or to get food, exercise or seek medical care.

Businesses deemed “critical” are exempt, though a list those was not immediately available. They must, however, adhere to strict social distancing measures.

It’s likely the stay-at-home order will further hurt Colorado’s economy, which has already been deeply damaged by the coronavirus outbreak. Thousands have filed unemployment claims.

Polis also said Wednesday he’s asked President Donald Trump to declare Colorado a major disaster area. “I call upon President Trump to grant this immediately,” he said.

Polis had already closed down bars and restaurants to in-person dining. Ski areas, theaters, casinos, gyms and schools had also all been ordered shut down.

Polis said the restrictions need to be lifted as soon as possible to prevent further economic damage.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Traffic expected to be heavy on U.S. 40 after rockslide closes I-70

Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon was closed in both directions Tuesday morning following a rockslide just west of Grizzly Creek. The Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol expect the interstate to be closed through the canyon for most of Tuesday and possibly longer.

Alternative routes are advised, and that is likely to bring a higher volume of travelers than usual through Craig, prompting Moffat County Tourism Association Director Tom Kleinschnitz to issue a “Tourist Alert.”

CDOT  reported the rockslide on Twitter about 1 a.m., adding in a 6 a.m. news release that there is no timeframe on when the road will be reopened.

CDOT spokeswoman Tracy Trulove said no vehicles were involved, and there were no injuries.

“There is a significant amount of debris on westbound deck and some damage to retaining wall,” she said. “Our geohazards team is on the way to assess the damage.”

I-70 is closed at the main Glenwood Springs Exit 116 on the west side of the canyon, and at Dotsero (mile marker 133) on the east. Residents of No Name are being allowed in and out from the Glenwood side if they can show proof of address.

State Patrol advised Front Range motorists heading west to take U.S. Highway 40 north to Steamboat Springs, then west Craig, then take Colo. Highway 13 south to Rifle.

The north alternate route for westbound motorists is north on Colo. Highway 131 at Wolcott to Steamboat, west on U.S. 40 to Craig, then south on Colo. 13 to Rifle and back to I-70.

With snow in the Glenwood Springs-area forecast through Wednesday, travel advisories are out for other western Colorado highways, as well.

The stretch of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon is prone to rockslides, in particular, the section west of the Hanging Lake Tunnel.

major rockslide on Feb. 15, 2016, resulted in a near week-long closure in both directions and lengthy detours north via U.S. 40 and south along U.S. Highway 50. The canyon was open to one lane only in both directions after six days, but a pilot car was used to guide traffic in alternating fashion for several weeks.

I-70 through the canyon was not fully reopened until the middle of April that year after some $5 million in emergency repairs.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.