136 STATE CAPITOL DENVER, COLORADO 80203 JARED Poms GOVERNOR TEL 303-866-2471 FAX 303-866-2003 2020 004 EXECUTIVE ORDER Ordering Closure of Downhill Ski Resorts Due to the Presence of in the State of Colorado Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado and, in particular, pursuant to Article IV, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution and the relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act, C.R.S. 24-33.5-701. et seq. (Act), 1, Jared Polis, Governor Of the State Of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order requiring the closure of downhill ski resorts due to the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in mountain communities with limited care capacity. I. Background and Purpose On March 5, 2020, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment?s (CDPHE) public health laboratory con?rmed the ?rst presumptive positive COVID-19 test result from Colorado. Since then, CDPHE con?rmed more than one hundred (100) additional presumptive positive cases and concluded that we are now seeing community spread Of the disease. I declared a disaster emergency on March 11, 2020, and issued Executive Order 2020 003. is a highly contagious viral disease that has spread throughout many of our communities. Public health Of?cials have concluded that disease control measures aimed at speci?c individuals or groups are no longer sufficient to contain the further spread of the virus. Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, and Gunnison Counties, where many Of Colorado?s premier ski resorts are located, have been particularly hard-hit by the emerging outbreak in the State. As of March 14, 2020, Summit County has two (2) cases, Eagle twenty (20) cases, Pitkin eleven (11) cases, and Gunnison six (6) cases. Medical centers in these areas have limited ability to meet the needs Of individuals with Further strain on their resources creates a risk that medical personnel in the area will be unable to provide needed care to residents and visitors to our mountain communities. On March 14, 2020, Vail Resorts announced that it would suspend operations in its North American resort and retail business for one week from March 15-22, 2020. Alterra Resorts, which operates Winter Park and Steamboat Springs ski areas, immediately followed suit. I applaud their leadership and willingness to prioritize public health and safety during these dif?cult times. The challenges posed by are unique and place signi?cant burdens on hospitals and medical personnel. We are aware of the great cost that mountain communities face Executive Order 2020 004 March 14, 2020 Page 2 of 2 if our downhill ski resorts close, even temporarily. These costs will be borne by local residents and businesses, and by the individuals and families who come to Colorado to enjoy our beautiful mountains and world-renowned skiing. But in the face of this pandemic emergency we cannot hesitate to protect public health and safety. By this Executive Order, I direct downhill ski resorts to suspend operations for one week to slow the spread of COVID-19 and conserve medical resources in our mountain communities. We will continue to monitor the course of the COVID-19 outbreak in the State and may amend this Executive Order accordingly. II. Directives A. I direct all downhill ski resorts in the State of Colorado to suspend operations from March 15?22, 2020. B. I further direct CDPHE and all local public health agencies in the relevant counties to inform the public of this Executive Order through messages broadcast by electronic and print media, communication with affected private and public organizations, and any other means that will inform the public. This Executive Order shall expire thirty (30) days from March 14, 2020, unless extended further by Executive Order. GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this fourteenth day of March, 2020. Jared Polis Governor