Polis also announced that he'd directed the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to create emergency rules that would ensure paid sick leave for workers in food handling, hospitality, child care, health care and education who are awaiting testing.

State officials told CPR later in the day that the rules would be a mandate on employers to provide the benefit -- and that the cost of the leave would not be supplied by the state.

The state is looking at other options for people who test positive.

"I'm also requesting that the private sector voluntarily offer paid sick leave" to those who don't have it, Polis said.

State employees who are put under quarantine or isolation will be able to work from home. Polis said the state is working on paid leave for people in jobs like prison guards and "frontline CDOT workers" who would not be able to work from home.

Additionally, people over 65 can temporarily extend their driver licenses online so they don't have to go to a crowded Department of Motor Vehicles — people under 65 have already been able to do that.

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declares a state of emergency Tuesday, March 10, 2020, over the growing threat to the state from the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Polis said that the measures should help keep Colorado running.

"We should all feel more comfortable eating out knowing that the chefs and waiters don't have to come to work sick."

But he quickly tempered that optimism with words of warning:

"The success of our response depends on individual responsibility," he said, going on to emphasize that people who are young and healthy need to bear in mind that the virus presents a serious threat to people who are sick or elderly.