Coronavirus In Colorado: What To Know Monday, May 11

According to government data posted Sunday afternoon, 19,703 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in Colorado among 104,077 people who have been tested since the outbreak began. Around 3,631 people have been hospitalized, and the death toll has reached 971.

Recent developments in Colorado and around the United States:

• Dozens of Americans who have fallen ill with the coronavirus are attempting to sue China over the spread of the virus, which originated in the city of Wuhan. The suits allege that China did not do enough to corral the virus initially, tried to hide what was happening and sought to conceal their actions and what they knew. Eight of the lawsuits are potential class actions that would represent thousands of people and businesses. One was filed by the attorney general of Missouri, which is so far the only state to take legal action against China.

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• The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy.
• Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• The U.S. response to the new coronavirus pandemic is taking some heat from former President Barack Obama, who until now has managed to keep himself out of the spotlight through much of President Donald Trump's presidency. Obama called Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic an "absolute chaotic disaster."
• An exchange between the owner of Texas-based Prestige Ameritech and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services went public this weekend. In it, Michael Bowen claims the federal government turned down his offer to produce millions of N95 masks in the early days of the pandemic.
• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said reopening the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic must be done in a "thoughtful way" but that not lifting lockdown measures could lead to "permanent economic damage."
• Several Illinois children have been hospitalized with a rare inflammatory illness related to coronavirus, according to media reports. The illness is similar to Kawasaki disease.
• Donated doses of the experimental drug Remdesivir have been shipped to some states, according to U.S. health officials.
• During a news conference Friday, Gov. Jared Polis stressed the importance of wearing masks during the state's safer-at-home phase. The Colorado Mask Project is a collaboration between state government, private sector donors, NGOs, and maker communities to deliver non-medical cloth masks to vulnerable populations and essential workers around the state. So far, 82,024 masks have been delivered or are in the process of delivery to 162 recipient organizations across 42 counties, and many more are on the way.
• Polis also discussed a new initiative: Can Do Colorado. This will provide guidance and tips to businesses about increasing teleworking capabilities, and highlight businesses that are being creative and going above and beyond to run their businesses safely and remotely.
• The state is launching "Connect to Care Jobs" through the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, in partnership with ADvancing States, to match health care job seekers with immediate openings in residential care settings. Job seekers should visit connecttocarejobs.com to apply.
• Denver, Arapahoe and Weld counties consistently have the highest overall number of cases in Colorado; however, Morgan, Logan and Eagle counties consistently have the highest case rates per 100,000 people.

Patch Editors Megan VerHelst and Nikki Gaskins contributed to this report.

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