In a statewide address on April 6, Gov. Jared Polis announced that the Colorado COVID-19 stay-at-home order would be extended until at least April 26, though he said he hoped the state could lift restrictions sooner than the current federal guidance, which is until April 30.

“The data and the science tells us that staying at home is our best chance, our only chance, to avoid a catastrophic loss of life — the deaths of thousands of our friends, our neighbors, our family members,” Polis said. “This generation has been called upon to make our own sacrifice — to temporarily sacrifice our way of life so that we may save human life.”

Polis said the actions taken so far in closing nonessential businesses and participating in social distancing have already started to pay off, with positive cases doubling every six days as opposed to every 1.5. 

The update follows news that officials are attempting to use the Colorado Convention Center as a temporary medical facility with up to 2,000 beds, according to The Denver Post. The city of Denver received a letter of intent from the state April 4. If the agreement with the state is finalized, it would allow Colorado to lease the building with provisions for up to 2,000 patients.

As of right now, 994 residents have been hospitalized with 150 deaths statewide, according to an article from Colorado Public Radio. There are currently 181 positive cases in Larimer County, with nine deaths related to COVID-19.

Noah Pasley can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @PasleyNoah.