In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Governor Jared Polis announced that he is enacting a statewide stay-at-home order for Colorado.

In light of the growing number of coronavirus cases in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis has issued a stay-at-home order for the entire state, effective March 26 through April 11.

In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Polis quoted Ecclesiastes 3, which states, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build," finishing his quote with a statement that this is a time to stay home.

In addition, Polis outlined the $2 trillion bipartisan deal that the U.S. Senate finished this morning, to help stabilize and boost the economy in light of the coronavirus outbreak. 

"When Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi agree, you know it's important," Polis said of the legislation that is expected to travel quickly through the congressional voting process. 

Polis announced that he has requested President Donald Trump to declare Colorado a major disaster area, enabling additional funding to help prepare for and fight the virus.

He reassured the public that there is no need to rush grocery stores and liquor stores, as those essential businesses will remain open. Polis is lifting the ban on plastic shopping bags and is encouraging people to use plastic bags and not reusable bags when doing their grocery shopping.

Coronavirus in Colorado surpassed 1,000 diagnosed cases today, with many more thousand undiagnosed. Colorado has one of the largest per capita infection rates in the country.

"It is now the law in Colorado to stay at home through April 11 ..." Polis said at the end of his prepared speech. "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die .... Now is not the time to die; we will not let it happen on our watch."