Coronavirus: City Of Colorado Springs Gives Update On COVID-19 Response

From the City of Colorado Springs:

Posted 3/17/2020

The City of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management* have been working with El Paso County Public Health over the past couple weeks around COVID-19. We have been monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 virus in our community as well as in other cities. We are working hand-in-hand with County government and El Paso County Health, which is the lead agency on this topic.

As the lead agency, El Paso County Health is working with the state (CDPHE) and the CDC in obtaining the most accurate and up-to-date information, and we are following their guidance.

Actions the City is taking

• Airport offers 50 percent off parking for college students through April 15
• Economic Development: helping businesses respond to COVID-19
• Colorado Springs Municipal Court Message about COVID-19
• Additional Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services programs suspended, several facilities temporarily closed
• Mayor declares state of emergency for Colorado Springs
• Mountain Metro Bus Services Reductions
• Several Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services programs suspended
• City Postponing Quarterly ADA Forum
• To help stop the spread of disease, we are placing sanitation stations at public city facilities
• El Paso County Public Health is creating criteria to assist event planners in deciding whether to hold or delay/cancel their public events. The City will make this criteria available to its permit holders
• Colorado Springs Police and Fire are trained for disasters and emergencies. While taking appropriate precautions, they will continue to respond and assist our community in line with their training
• At this time, the COS Airport is not under any travel restrictions. They are working closely with the airlines and federal agencies and will follow any travel restrictions that are put in place, and keep public informed of any changes
• The airport has recently made several additions within their facility to help prevent the spread of germs to include additional sanitizing stations and ensuring an adequate supply of cleaning and hygiene products
• Mountain Metro is taking additional measures to keep our vehicles clean and our customers and employees healthy. Our buses and ADA paratransit vehicles are being cleaned every day with hospital-grade disinfectant. Teams are wiping down seats, steering wheels, handles, buckles, stop request pull cords, and other high-touch areas.
• Regular policy meetings with key staff and El Paso County Public Health representatives to keep up-to-date with developments around COVID-19
• Communications staff is working daily with El Paso County Public Health and sharing their recommendations and communication about proper hygiene and preventing the spread of illnesses, including COVID-19
• We are actively reviewing and updating our plans to continue City operations if the virus becomes more widespread in our community.

Emergency Preparedness (OEM)COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

* The City and County are consolidating their Offices of Emergency Management in an effort to optimize staff resources, establish a single point of contact during major incidences and enhance communication both during and after an event. The new office, the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management (PPR-OEM) will support operations during a disaster or emergency in El Paso County and Colorado Springs.

Because disaster knows no jurisdictional boundaries, we can most efficiently prepare for an emergency and respond to one by coordinating our efforts on a regional basis. The establishment of the PPR-OEM will allow the county and the city to more effectively coordinate and assist first responders in an emergency as well as preparing the government and the community for a disaster.

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.