The Colorado State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are distributing critical resources today to help communities respond to COVID-19.
This week, Colorado received a second allotment from the Strategic National Stockpile, which it will begin distributing across the state today.
The Strategic National Stockpile is “the nation’s largest supply of potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.” This week Colorado received its second allotment, which included:
- 49,920 N95 masks
- 117,500 surgical masks
- 21,312 face shields
- 20,820 surgical gowns
- 108,000 gloves
CDPHE estimates that these supplies are sufficient for approximately one full day of statewide operations under normal standards of care. Information about the first allotment can be found here.
The State Unified Command Group, which is part of the State EOC, will distribute these materials to every county health department and tribe throughout the state where they are needed most. The following factors were used to determine allocation:
- County population.
- Portion of the population that is older than age 65 proportional to the state population.
- The number of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
- If the county or tribe has received supplies previously.
- All county health departments and tribes in the state will receive supplies. CDPHE will work with regional staff to coordinate deliveries.
“Because of the finite amount of supplies, we, and numerous other states across the country, are not receiving the amounts we are requesting. However, the State of Colorado is not waiting to resolve this issue; we are working with the private sector and the public to find ways to increase our inventory of critical medical equipment and supplies,” said Mike Willis, Director of the State EOC.
There are many ways people can contribute to these efforts:
- The EOC is coordinating requests for supplies, donations of supplies, vendors who can provide supplies, and trained medical personnel. Please follow the three steps on the Colorado Business EOC website [colorado.gov/cobeoc/business-members-and-vendors] to create an account in the state resource database. The State EOC uses this database to fill all resource requests from state and local agencies during emergencies.
- Coloradans who wish to donate or volunteer to help those affected by COVID-19 should visit www.helpcoloradonow.com.
- There is an urgent need for blood. Go to vitalent.org to sign up to donate blood.