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Denver raises COVID-19 community level to Medium as cases of the coronavirus increase

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Denver raises COVID-19 community level to Medium as cases of the coronavirus increase


DENVER — Denver and two different Colorado counties raised their COVID-19 neighborhood degree danger to “medium” Friday, underscoring the necessity to stay vigilant because the BA.2 sublineage of the omicron variant continues to drive up instances throughout Colorado.

Denver Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere (DDPHE) officers mentioned in a information launch Friday residents ought to take into account taking extra precautions because the variety of COVID-19 instances per 100,000 individuals have now exceeded 200, shifting the COVID-19 neighborhood degree from low to medium, per the newest pointers from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

The brand new pointers — based mostly on lagging indicators such because the quantity hospital beds getting used and the quantity hospital admissions, as a substitute of main indicators (equivalent to the entire variety of new COVID-19 instances in an space) — advocate that individuals residing in a county with “medium” COVID-19 neighborhood danger speak to their physician about whether or not they should put on a masks and take different precautions. Additionally they counsel individuals keep up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and get examined if you happen to expertise cold-like signs.

“Since early April, charges of COVID-19 instances have been slowly, however steadily, growing,” DDPHE officers mentioned Friday. “Whereas the present surge shouldn’t be anticipated to be almost as giant because the Omicron surge earlier this yr, it is a good alternative to remind our neighborhood learn how to keep protected, protected and ready for COVID-19.”

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Denver’s one-week incidence price of instances per 100,000 individuals as of Friday was 209. The county’s 7-day common positivity price stood at 7.95%, almost 3 share factors above what’s advisable by officers to curb transmission of the virus.

Earlier Friday, Boulder Conty Public Well being officers mentioned in a information launch the shift of their county’s COVID-19 neighborhood degree to “medium” signifies the danger of getting contaminated with the novel virus is growing locally, and extra measures to curb transmission are advisable to maintain different protected and restrict the pressure on healthcare programs in Boulder County.

“The rise of instances was not sudden because the extra contagious BA.2 variant spreads domestically and nationally,” mentioned Carol Helwig, communicable illness program supervisor for Boulder County Public Well being (BCPH). “It is vital for all of us to remain aware of making use of measures to guard one another, particularly to guard people who find themselves older or who’ve underlying medical situations. Therapeutics can forestall essentially the most extreme outcomes of illness. It is a good time to speak to your medical supplier and guarantee that you’ve a plan to entry remedy promptly if you happen to turn into in poor health.”

Among the many recommendatio to maintain your self and others protected as instances proceed to extend:

  • Get vaccinated and keep up-to-date in your COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Get examined earlier than gathering with somebody at excessive danger of extreme illness, hospitalization, or loss of life attributable to COVID-19
  • Improve the airflow and air flow in indoor environments by opening home windows or utilizing HEPA filters to enhance air high quality inside your private home, or if gathering, transfer actions outside
  • Put on a well-fitted, high-quality medical-grade masks
  • Wash your palms totally for a minimum of 20 seconds
  • Comply with the county’s isolation and quarantine pointers if you happen to take a look at constructive.

Mineral County in southwestern Colorado is the third county below COVID-19 Degree Medium, per the CDC’s COVID-19 county map. The earlier CDC pointers, which centered solely on the extent of neighborhood transmission, exhibits a big chunk of the state is below a degree of danger the place using a face masks is advisable.

On Thursday, San Juan Basin Public Well being, which serves La Plata and Archuleta counties, warned its constituents to think about taking extra precautions to curb transmission of the coronavirus as concentrations of the virus in Durango’s wastewater have greater than doubled previously 16 days, to ranges final seen in early February, in response to a information launched obtained by our companions at The Denver Submit.

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Information from the state exhibits the BA.2 sublineage of the omicron variant accounts for almost three quarters of all infections in Colorado, whereas its cousin, BA.2.12.1 — which is believed to be 30% extra transmissible than BA.2 — makes up almost 20% of all infections.

BA.2.12.1 is about to turn into the dominant variant within the U.S. by the tip of this week.





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Denver, CO

Armed man killed in Commerce City police shooting after standoff

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Armed man killed in Commerce City police shooting after standoff


A 29-year-old armed man was shot and killed by officers after a nearly five-hour standoff Friday, according to Commerce City police .

Police officers and SWAT team members responded to a home in the 6700 block of East 72nd Avenue about 2 p.m. Friday for an “armed and barricaded suspect” who was wanted on suspicion of a domestic violence assault from earlier in the day.

The man briefly held a maintenance worker hostage inside the home before the worker escaped on his own, police said in a news release. The man refused to surrender and threatened to shoot police officers even after hours of conversation with negotiators, according to the department.

The man “was eventually shot by police” and died at the scene despite officers providing medical aid, the department  said Friday. His name will be released by the Adams County coroners office.

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The 17th Judicial District is investigating the shooting.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Denver, CO

Tubing ban rescinded for Boulder Creek

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Tubing ban rescinded for Boulder Creek


Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson will rescind the tubing ban for Boulder Creek, effective at 5 p.m. today.

According to a release, deputies will be removing the posted signage by the creek.

The initial restrictions took effect on June 12, due to high water flow from melted snow.

The closure encompassed Boulder Creek from below Boulder Falls at Boulder Canyon Drive to 55th Street, according to the release.

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Although water levels have fallen, officers advised to be aware that the water conditions still may not be safe for your skill and comfort level.

Police also recommended to always use caution and wear personal safety equipment while recreating near bodies of water.

Examples of personal safety equipment include a personal flotation device or life jacket, a drysuit or wetsuit, and a helmet.

Those using water sport equipment like tubes or kayaks, are asked to place their name and contact information on the equipment in the event that they lose it in the water.

The tubing ban for the St. Vrain Creek was lifted on Thursday.

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Denver, CO

Denver district attorney candidates make final pitches to voters

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Denver district attorney candidates make final pitches to voters


DENVER (KDVR)- Candidates in primary races are entering into the home stretch with ballot boxes closing Tuesday.

There are some hotly contested races in Denver, including the race for the next district attorney. With no Republican running for the seat, the two Democratic candidates are going all in ahead of the primary election.

Two Democrats with significant legal careers are going head-to-head in hopes of becoming Denver’s next district attorney. They are each making their final pitches to a group of voters who are notorious for turning in their ballots just before they close.

John Walsh and Leora Joseph are battling to become Denver’s next district attorney.

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Walsh served as U.S. Attorney during the Obama administration. Joseph is the director of the state’s Office of Behavioral Health. They both have some high-profile endorsements from influential figures across the state, but Walsh earned the endorsement of D.A. Beth McCann. Walsh wants voters to know he’s looking to reenergize the office while still holding people accountable.

“That depth of connection to the Denver metro community I think really matters. It’s that experience as a prosecutor but also a really, intimate understanding of this entire city that will make a difference,” Walsh said. “While I’m very proud to have Beth McCann’s endorsement, I’m not Beth McCann 2.0. In terms of what I would differently, I think we really have to focus on the problems we’ve got right in front of us. That includes a stubbornly high violent crime rate in Denver and an unfortunately increasing youth violence rate. That’s an area I would come at with vigor to make sure we are approaching it both to prosecute the small number of people both who are truly dangerous to the community but also that we work with the community to get young people opportunities to stay out of cultures that can lead to violence.”

Walsh also said he would focus on prosecuting drug dealers in an effort to curb the fentanyl epidemic and using the criminal justice system to get people treatment. He also said he wants to crack down on car theft.

Joseph wants voters to know she plans to prosecute crime but she also wants to use her background in behavioral health to bring a compassionate approach to what she says is a mental health crisis in the city.

“My central message: I’m running on change. If you think we need to change how public safety is being administered in this city, I’m your candidate,” Joseph said. “I think we need to handle public safety and the justice system differently. The biggest change that I am going to make is how the office is organized. Teams of prosecutors need to be in community and working hand-in-hand with police and community agencies, community organizations, the schools, nonprofits, mental health, we need to be a seat at the table and all of us need to be rowing in the same boat. I am committed to prosecuting crime, I am committed to not ignoring crime and I am committed to finding alternative solutions and pathways for people who are really struggling. When I talk about not ignoring crime, we’ve got to handle it. But what we’ve learned is that prison doesn’t work for everybody; prison isn’t the only option we need to do better. And the work I get to do now looks at models across the country. Where are local municipalities making change? That’s where I’ve been able to learn about how we use our court system and move people into treatment.”

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Both candidates are touting their experience as reasons for voters to support them.

“I actually have the experience of running a large prosecution office successfully, not just internally but with respect to the community and to other government agencies and to the state,” Walsh said pointing to his experience as U.S. Attorney. “I was the top federal prosecutor for the state and was in that position for essentially [President Obama’s] entire administration. The reason I focus on that is because it’s a very specific job running a big prosecution office and to be successful at it, you have to be able to collaborate with a whole range of folks: people actually in the community, other government agencies, the state government, the federal government, those are things I’ve all done and done with success.”

“I understand he’s held a federal position and that isn’t this job. This job involves managing teams at a local level, involved in local government and that’s the work I’ve been doing: at the local level in Colorado. Managing teams and working in the District Attorney’s Office which is a unique set of laws and working at the state level- not in the D.C. federal system,” Joseph said.

Regardless of their differences in backgrounds and where they stand on policy, both candidates are encouraging voters to get those ballots in as soon as possible before polls close Tuesday night.

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