12:21 p.m. — CU developing a "SickStick" test

Early in the immune response to a pathogen, the body produces smoke signals that show up in saliva within hours of exposure. Scientists at The University of Colorado Boulder think they’ve found a way to detect those signals and are working to develop a test for COVID-19.

It’s called the SickStick and it would allow for broader testing which could prevent sick people from spreading the virus without knowing it. The only problem is the test won’t be ready for 6-8 months — and even that timeline is ambitious.

“We're hoping that that device will be available in the fall or winter when this pandemic is likely to resurge again,” Nick Meyerson, a Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology department scientist who’s worked to develop the test.

The scientists behind the device are collecting data to submit to the Food and Drug Administration for an Emergency Use Authorization. Meyerson is confident they will be able to detect COVID-19, but they’re still collecting data.

The signals that SickStick detects are nucleic acids — DNA and RNA — that cells produce when they recognize a pathogen has broken in. They’re some of the earliest signs scientists know about that indicate the body has detected an intruder.

Scientists don’t quite understand how or why those signals end up in the saliva. “But what we do know is that regardless of what kind of infection you're dealing with, whether it's bacterial, viral or fungal, and whether it's in your blood or in your stomach or in your lungs, somehow this signal gets released into your saliva,” Meyerson said.

Originally, the device was developed to test almost any infectious disease. Meyerson’s advisor, Sara Sawyer, a professor at CU Boulder and a virologist at the BioFrontiers Institute, received funding from the Department of Defense which is where the concept for the device was born.

“At military bases, because the soldiers are kept at such close quarters, infectious disease can spread like wildfire,” Meyerson said. “They essentially deal with epidemics all the time and so they really wanted a device that could detect if somebody's getting sick before the thermometer could.”

Current COVID-19 tests, which are in short supply and high demand across the country, detect the virus’ genetic material, which is only prevalent in large enough numbers to test after days of the virus replicating. Antibody tests, or serologic tests, indicate that a person has already been exposed to a virus and has recovered. Those tests are on their way to being available, although their reliability is still questioned by some public health experts.

— Claire Cleveland

Noon — Polis will speak later today

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

The governor will provide an update on the state's response to the coronavirus from the Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. His remarks are scheduled for 4 p.m. MDT and Colorado Public Radio will carry them live. Find a signal near you or ask your smart speaker to "Play CPR News."

11:35 a.m. — "Hamilton" sale postponed

The Denver Center for Performing Arts announced Friday morning that a planned sale of tickets to the still wildly-popular musical "Hamilton" has been postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus.

"We are mindful that Colorado's public officials and our nation's health experts are telling us all to shelter in place and we continue to monitor their orders and recommendations," read a statement from the DCPA. "Based on Governor Polis’ recent press conference, and out of an abundance of caution, we are going to postpone the on-sale for 'Hamilton' scheduled for Monday, April 20."

The actual performances are still scheduled for August 12 to October 4. If that remains the case, a new date will be announced in the future for ticket sales. Updates can be found here.

— Chuck Murphy

11:11 a.m. — Update for gig workers looking for unemployment