CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Gov. Jared Polis

Interview

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Joining us now, the governor of Colorado, Jared Polis.

Governor, thank you so much for joining us.

I want to get your reaction to the dramatic words we just heard from the governor of California, Gavin Newsom. He's now projecting that more than half of his state's population, maybe 25 million people, will be infected over an eight-week period.

Are you bracing for a similar level of infection in Colorado?

GOV. JARED POLIS (D-CO): Well, Wolf, the overwhelming of our hospitals and swamping of our capacity on the ventilator side is exactly why we're taking steps and I know a number of other states are to significantly reduce the spread of the virus through social distancing.

We have closed in-restaurant dining temporarily, salons, hair and nail. So these are the steps we're taking, as well as issuing guidance that group -- people shouldn't congregate in groups of 10 or more.

So we're really hoping to spread that out. Wolf, at the end of the day, it doesn't stop the spread of the virus, but it slows it out so that our health care system isn't overwhelmed.

BLITZER: Unfortunately, it's still growing now, not just in your state, but all over the country.

Do you agree with the Trump administration's decision to have the State Department issue this level four travel advisory, warning all Americans against traveling abroad?

POLIS: Well, at this point, it's not about travel abroad.

We have it here in every state in the country, over 200 in Colorado that have been tested positive, many, many, many more that are showing the symptoms and have tests pending or were -- as we expand our test capacity.

So it's not about getting something from overseas. It's here today. It's spreading. We need to engage in aggressive social distancing, and try to be six feet away from others to avoid the spread.

BLITZER: What's the biggest need in Colorado right now?

POLIS: Short-term need is the personal protective equipment.

So, it's the gloves, the masks, hospital gowns. We're working on trying to get those where we can from all different sources. That's the most immediate need, over time, scaling up testing, scaling up physical capacity for hospital beds.

But, more importantly, Wolf, it's figuring out how our economy can prosper and how we can protect jobs, given that this will be the new normal until there's an effective treatment or vaccine.

BLITZER: Let's hope there is at some point.

Governor Jared Polis, thank you very much for joining us. Appreciate what you're doing.

POLIS: Thank you, Wolf.

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