8:56 a.m. — Gov. Polis will speak later this morning

Polis will speak from the state Capitol to update on the response to coronavirus, efforts to raise relief funds, volunteerism in response to the public health crisis and more.

CPR will carry this briefing live at 10:15 a.m. MDT this morning. Find a signal near you or ask your smart speaker to "Play CPR News."

8:36 a.m. — Latest moves from our reps in Congress

In hopes that the pen is mightier than federal red tape, Colorado’s congressional delegation has sent a number of letters to get federal resources to the state. They wrote to the head of the Small Business Administration to urge the agency to approve an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for Colorado, a request made by Gov. Jared Polis. This would help the state’s small businesses deal with the economic impacts of the coronavirus.

Many Colorado businesses have closed temporarily and have suffered losses as people stay at home to limit the spread of the coronavirus. “All sectors of the economy are feeling the effects of this pandemic and every available incentive to help businesses and the workers they employ through this uncertain time is critical,” said Rep. Joe Neguse.

“With over 1.1 million Coloradans employed by small businesses, we must do everything we can to help Colorado’s workforce and quickly approve Colorado’s request for a disaster declaration,” Rep. Jason Crow said in a statement. Crow has had to self-isolate after meeting with a constituent who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

All members of the delegation, except for Rep. Ken Buck, also sent a letter to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to request clear guidelines on options available to the state, local and tribal governments under national emergency declared by President Donald Trump.

Rep. Scott Tipton said many counties across the state are frustrated in trying to find out where the federal government might reimburse for local costs during this public health crisis. “While FEMA and other agencies have provided a few examples of what can be reimbursed – such as costs associated with activating State Emergency Operations Centers and the state National Guards – they have not provided specific examples for the local levels or clear guidelines on how to access these funds,” Tipton said in a statement.

The biggest form of help could come in a coronavirus aid package currently moving through Congress, and another aid package the Senate is currently trying to craft.

— Caitlyn Kim

8:00 a.m. — Costilla County issues emergency declaration

There are currently no known cases of COVID-19 in Costilla County, in the southern San Luis Valley. On Tuesday, the county took proactive steps to prepare for the arrival of the coronavirus. The county's public health department is prohibiting events of 10 or more people and the county declared a local emergency.

— Jim Hill

7:36 a.m. — Wall Street continues to whipsaw

Stocks opened sharply lower as fears spread of economic damage from the coronavirus; Dow sinks 1,200 points or 6 percent.

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News Lines of unused wheelchairs at Denver International Airport Tuesday March 17 20920.

7:31 a.m. — Front line workers say they aren't protected enough

Janitors, airport workers, flight attendants and firefighters say they need more from either their employers, the federal government — or both.

Jimmy Allen, an Aurora firefighter who represents 5,000 workers with the Colorado Professional Firefighters, said he and his coworkers across the state are short on supplies and paid sick leave.

Allen said they are short protective masks, gowns, oxygen and albuterol treatments.

“We have enough for a few calls maybe, but now we have to pick and choose what calls we’re going to wear our protective measures on,” Allen said. “The supplies should just be endless.”

Allen and other workers stood behind a call by the SEIU Local 105 labor union leader Ron Ruggiero for a “people’s bailout,” more paid sick leave and stronger health care coverage.

— David Sachs

7:03 a.m. — ☕️ Good morning, Parents. Good luck today

"Even for parents who love hanging with their kids, you can only take so much family time before you start to get stressed." We're all in this together, while we're apart, but parents have a little more to deal with. Here's a story from education reporter Jenny Brundin with some tips for parents while you've got the munchkins at home (for who knows how long).

— Dave Burdick

6:50 a.m. — White House coronavirus taskforce briefing later this morning

Colorado Public Radio will carry today's live briefing from the White House at 9:30 a.m. MDT. Find a signal near you or ask your smart speaker to "Play CPR News." We'll also post a video live stream of the briefing here in the live blog so that you can watch.

— Jim Hill

6:35 a.m. — Sen. Cory Gardner, Rep. Jason Crow will self-quarantine

Two members of Colorado's Congressional delegation are now isolating themselves, after potential exposure to the new coronavirus.

On Tuesday evening, in separate news releases, Republican Sen. Cory Gardner and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow both said they'd had contact with a Colorado constituent who later tested positive for the virus and will self-quarantine. It's unclear if both men met with the same person.

"I was alerted today by the Tri-County Health Department that a Coloradan who visited my Washington office for a constituent meeting has tested positive for coronavirus," Gardner said in a statement. "While I am not showing any symptoms at this time, I have made the decision to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution with an effective date of March 11th at the recommendation of the Tri-County Health Department."