As media, elected officials, and the general public across the globe seek timely information about and wrestle with the potential impact of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak that originated in China, it’s vitally important that the public keep consulting reliable sources of information.

The first cases of the virus in Colorado were reported in early March. The Tri-County Health Department, which serves Arapahoe, Douglas and Adams counties, has issued guidelines for how to respond to the crisis.

On Wednesday, March 11, from 7– 8:30 p.m., the three counties will host a joint COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall to discuss the latest developments about the coronavirus and how area residents should prepare for it.

All residents are invited to submit their questions to our COVID-19 survey page ahead of the event. This will help officials from each county, and from Tri-County Health, to learn more about some of the most frequently asked COVID-19 questions in their communities, and to have the opportunity to research the answers before the event. Participants also will have the opportunity to ask questions during the 90-minute town hall. A recording will be made available on ArapahoeGov.com after it concludes, and Tri-County will respond offline to any questions that don’t get answered during the event.

This is an evolving situation, so please continue monitoring Tri-County Health, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for updates about the virus and how to prepare for and respond to it.

“When events like these occur and there are still many unknowns, we encourage all our residents to stay abreast of developments by relying upon established, expert sources of information,” said Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners Chair Nancy Sharpe. “By seeking out reliable facts and using them to stay prepared, we can minimize the risk COVID-19 might present.”