Closures, cancellations continue to mount

Last week’s big change for Colorado residents in the midst of an ever-changing coronavirus pandemic was an executive order by Gov. Jared Polis for Coloradans to stay at home. Effective March 26, the order mandates everyone in the state stay home through Saturday, April 11, except for critical activities.

Critical activities include:

— Obtaining food and medicine.

— Going to and from work if a critical employee.

— Seeking medical care.

— Caring for dependents or pets.

— Caring for a vulnerable person in another location.

— Participating in outdoor recreation at a legally mandated safe distance of 6 feet or more from other parties.

For additional guidance on the stay-at-home order, including critical vs. noncritical businesses, see the public health order from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at https://drive.google.com/file/d/15odEp4BF2gxJAiGNpxX-5nB7nCirbk4z/view.

In an effort to comply with the stay-at-home order, Holyoke’s parks are closed. That includes the school playground, the skate park and the ballpark as well as City Park.

Trump declares major disaster in Colorado

On the same day he announced the stay-at-home order, Polis submitted an urgent request to the federal government to help Colorado handle COVID-19. On March 28, President Donald Trump declared that a major disaster exists in Colorado and ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts. At the time of publication, Trump had made such declarations for 27 states and territories.

MMH closes dental, eye clinics

On March 19, Polis issued an executive order to temporarily cease all elective and nonessential surgeries and procedures — whether medical, dental or veterinary — and to preserve personal protective equipment and ventilators in Colorado through April 14. A procedure is considered voluntary if it can be delayed for a minimum of three months without undue risk to the current or future health of the patient.

Though rural and critical access hospitals are exempt from the order, they are encouraged to comply on a voluntary basis. Melissa Memorial Hospital opted to close MMH Family Dental and Holyoke Family Eye Care last week to aid in the efforts.

Restaurants face a month more of modified services

A public health order initially issued March 16 closed bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms. An amendment added nonessential personal services (hair and nail salons and tattoo and massage parlors) and extended the order through April 30.

For at least another month, such businesses will remain closed. In Holyoke and across the state, restaurants are offering new delivery and carry-out options to comply with the order.

Events postponed, canceled

The Phillips County Economic Development annual meeting scheduled for April 27 has been postponed. The FCCLA state leadership conference has been canceled entirely.

Phillips County Family Education Services began online ESL classes March 30. Anyone with questions about ESL classes should email julie.brown@njc.edu. There will be no citizenship preparation or after-school homework classes until further notice.