► Governor Jared Polis on Monday outlined a path forward for Colorado to begin to return to normal life after more than a month of stay-at-home orders, though critics worry that there is still a severe shortage of coronavirus testing in our state. As Denver 7 reports:
Colorado public health officials said Monday that even once the governor begins to lift the stay-at-home order next week, strict physical distancing measures, the wearing of masks and better COVID-19 case detection and containment will be needed for months to avoid overwhelming the state’s ICU hospital beds.
Gov. Jared Polis said Monday afternoon he would allow the statewide stay-at-home order to expire Sunday, but plans keep those strict measures discussed by health officials in place as the state gradually begins to reopen through what Polis said would be “safer at home” guidance.
Polis said retail businesses could begin curbside delivery on Monday, April 27. Elective surgeries will be allowed beginning that same day. Large workplaces will be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity beginning on May 4. Polis says he hopes bars, restaurants, and clubs can reopen by mid-May but warned that more data was needed before he can make that decision.
► There are conflicting stories about the progress of another coronavirus stimulus bill in Congress. As The Washington Post reports:
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Tuesday that lawmakers and the White House have reached a nearly $500 billion deal to replenish a small business lending program slammed by the coronavirus and to boost spending on hospitals and testing…
…However, a Senate GOP leadership aide cautioned that a deal was close but not yet completed as it awaited final sign-off from GOP leaders. The aide spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.
Democrats have been demanding that more money is included to provide relief to local governments and municipalities.
Meanwhile, The Colorado Sun breaks down Colorado’s $7.4 billion share from the first round of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program.
► We’ve mentioned before that nearly 8 in 10 Americans DO NOT AGREE with the narrative being pushed by protestors who are mad about stay-at-home orders. Now, a new poll shows that the majority of Americans believe these protestors are wrong. From Newsweek:
The latest survey by Yahoo! News and YouGov found that 60 percent of the U.S. public opposed protesters calling for an immediate end to social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders designed to protect public safety.
Less than a quarter of respondents (22 percent) said they supported the rallies calling for America to be “reopened” while a further 18 percent said they were “not sure” how they felt on the matter.
The coronavirus also disagrees with these protestors. The state of Kentucky saw a surge in coronavirus cases a few days after rallies from right-wing meatheads who are mad about stay-at-home orders.
If you’re looking for political news that isn’t about Coronavirus, it’s available right after the jump…
SERIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE NON-CORONAVIRUS NEWS MOMENTARILY…
As PEOPLE magazine explains, PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked Trump about why he was still traveling the country in February and March despite his own boasts of setting travel restrictions:
“You held rallies in February and March and there are some—” Alcindor said before Trump, 73, cut the reporter off.
“I don’t know about rallies. I really don’t know about rallies,” Trump said. “I know one thing: I haven’t left the White House in months, [Pols emphasis] except for a brief moment to give a wonderful ship, the [USNS] Comfort—”
“I know one thing: I haven’t left the White House in months.” Actual quote from actual President of the United States of America.
► Public polling remains consistent on two related fronts, as The Washington Post reports:
Most Americans expect no immediate easing of the health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, despite calls by President Trump and others to begin reopening the economy quickly. A majority say it could be June or later before it will be safe for larger gatherings to take place again, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.
Most Americans — 54 percent — give the president negative marks for his handling of the outbreak in this country and offer mixed reviews for the federal government as a whole. By contrast, 72 percent of Americans give positive ratings to the governors of their states for the way they have dealt with the crisis, with workers also rating their employers positively.
► Contact tracing will be the key to controlling the next stage of coronavirus. John Ingold of The Colorado Sun explains how it will work in Colorado.
► The Denver Post talks with the freelance photographer who captured this now-iconic shot of nurses standing in the way of Denver protestors opposed to stay-at-home orders.
(Photo by Alyson McClaran)
AT LAST: POLITICAL NEWS THAT IS (MOSTLY) NOT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS…
► This could turn out to be one of the more important stories in the 2020 election cycle. From NBC News:
Officials have identified seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus through activities related to the April 7 election in Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s health commissioner said, and advocates worry it could be just the “tip of the iceberg.”
Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik said six of the cases involve Milwaukee voters and one is a Milwaukee poll worker, the Journal Sentinel reported.
Officials hope to have additional information on the cases by the end of the week, including whether any of them were concentrated in any of the city’s five polling places or if any resulted in death, Kowalik said Monday.
Republicans are openly opposing expanded mail-in balloting in 2020 because of concerns that increased voter turnout will hurt Republican candidates. But arguing against mail balloting by yelling false claims about voter fraud becomes a much weaker argument when in-person voting is literally killing people.
► Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) has repeatedly refused to take actions to protect people with pre-existing medical conditions. A new campaign ad is making it hurt.
► Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Cortez) began his political career as a state lawmaker, so you would think he would have a decent understanding of how Colorado’s state budget works. You would be wrong.
► Senate Bill 181, an oil and gas regulation measure passed by the Colorado legislature in 2019, has long been decried as leading to the death of the O&G industry in our state. That narrative is officially, positively dead now.
► The Colorado Springs Business Journal encourages Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) to do something to stop the grift from the coronavirus stimulus money:
Since Sen. Cory Gardner seems to have the president’s ear — at least for now — he should step up and demand the White House adhere to the principles of accountability and fiscal responsibility that Republicans claim to espouse.
Gardner should call for Fine’s immediate reinstatement, emphasizing that nonpartisan watchdogs are essential to democracy.
Gardner must make clear that Colorado won’t engage in currying political favor; that Coloradans value transparency and fairness; that playing politics with essential aid will destroy national unity — and cost lives.
It’s past time to push our elected officials to stand against the president’s assault on independent oversight.
► The latest episode of The Get More Smarter Podcast went live on Saturday morning. Tune in to hear hosts Jason Bane and Ian Silverii discuss the latest fundraising numbers and listen to some wacky interviews with anti-stay-at-home protestors.
8 thoughts on “Get More Smarter on Tuesday (April 21)”
re: your link to CBS and saying there is a downward trend.
I’ve been keeping track of the number of cases reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In the past week, the number of cases has gone from 7,691 on the report put out on the 13th, to 10,106 on the 20th. The increments each day were 250; 339; 395; 372; 386; 297; and 376.
I have a bit of a problem with the way the state and many others report statistics. The numbers we hear from our TV newscasters and that I see online are all cumulative numbers. The graph says 76 or so cases have been reported in Garfield County. That is a cumulative total. Currently there are 3 hospitalized patients in Garco. The same thing (with slightly different numbers) is true in Mesa County.
I am in no way encouraging anyone to leave the house, but is is important to know what the numbers actually mean.
Just a guess as to the reporting — the state is likely reporting the cumulative information reported from the counties. If you want “by day” information from a particular county, that would probably be kept at the county?
Don’t know if Mesa County Public Health is posting the numbers you want up publicly, or just doing whatever reporting is required to be made to the state.
The “problem” in determining a trend per any particular county is that at some point the population in “smaller” counties gets to a point where any short-term “trends” are hard to identify. The sample universe is statistically to small to be of much real value.
On a statewide basis, the larger sample size makes the aggregation more like to reveal some statistically valid trend lines.
We aren’t going to know what the numbers mean until we get mass antibody tests, like San Miguel County did. Their antibody test results show about 1-2% positive- ( total infected/ total tested) with social distancing and stay home orders in place. Other, poorer and less healthy populations in homeless shelters and prisons are showing 20-40% infected of those tested.
UBI plans to test everyone in San Miguel county. Weld County, with its meat packing plants that don’t allow paid sick leave, and defiant covid19 truthers and freedumbers, has the highest infection rate in the state.
Until we have mass free or low cost antibody testing, our numbers don’t mean squat as far as when it’s safe to re-open business as usual.
San Miguel County April 21 Update – More UBI Blood Test Results Received
(April 21, 2020) Public Health received an additional 2,174 results from UBI from the first-round blood antibody testing: 9 positive, 29 borderline, and 2,136 negative.
Those who tested positive or borderline are being called by Public Health; those who tested negative will receive an email notification or phone call. There are 695 pending results.
Note: lab tests were not processed in the order in which they were done.
Please remember to continue to follow current county public health orders including stay at home and physical distancing measures.
Total received: 4,757
Total pending: 695
Total positive: 26
Total borderline: 72
Total negative: 4,659
Yesterday’s state report had 17 positive cases. Colorado’s definition page says “Cases are considered confirmed when there has been a positive molecular amplification test (such as PCR) performed by a lab. These tests commonly involve taking a nasal swab which is then sent to specific laboratories for results.”
April 21, 2020 11:05 AM UTC
8 Comments
The Flint, Michigan water crisis 
I’ve been keeping track of the number of cases reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In the past week, the number of cases has gone from 7,691 on the report put out on the 13th, to 10,106 on the 20th. The increments each day were 250; 339; 395; 372; 386; 297; and 376.
The “trend” is ambiguous, at best.
Alternative math . . .
I have a bit of a problem with the way the state and many others report statistics. The numbers we hear from our TV newscasters and that I see online are all cumulative numbers. The graph says 76 or so cases have been reported in Garfield County. That is a cumulative total. Currently there are 3 hospitalized patients in Garco. The same thing (with slightly different numbers) is true in Mesa County.
I am in no way encouraging anyone to leave the house, but is is important to know what the numbers actually mean.
Just a guess as to the reporting — the state is likely reporting the cumulative information reported from the counties. If you want “by day” information from a particular county, that would probably be kept at the county?
Don’t know if Mesa County Public Health is posting the numbers you want up publicly, or just doing whatever reporting is required to be made to the state.
Looks like there some reporting by “onset date.”
https://health.mesacounty.us/covid19/
The “problem” in determining a trend per any particular county is that at some point the population in “smaller” counties gets to a point where any short-term “trends” are hard to identify. The sample universe is statistically to small to be of much real value.
On a statewide basis, the larger sample size makes the aggregation more like to reveal some statistically valid trend lines.
The numbers I cited were from the local newspaper.
We aren’t going to know what the numbers mean until we get mass antibody tests, like San Miguel County did. Their antibody test results show about 1-2% positive- ( total infected/ total tested) with social distancing and stay home orders in place. Other, poorer and less healthy populations in homeless shelters and prisons are showing 20-40% infected of those tested.
UBI plans to test everyone in San Miguel county. Weld County, with its meat packing plants that don’t allow paid sick leave, and defiant covid19 truthers and freedumbers, has the highest infection rate in the state.
Until we have mass free or low cost antibody testing, our numbers don’t mean squat as far as when it’s safe to re-open business as usual.
free testing for everyone.
It's the only way to know
San Miguel County April 21 Update – More UBI Blood Test Results Received
Yesterday’s state report had 17 positive cases. Colorado’s definition page says “Cases are considered confirmed when there has been a positive molecular amplification test (such as PCR) performed by a lab. These tests commonly involve taking a nasal swab which is then sent to specific laboratories for results.”