Headlines April 21, 2020

On Monday Governor Jared Polis announced plans for next week after the current stay at home order expires. He said, the state will now move to a “safer at home” phase.

There will be a gradual reopening of retail stores and personal services, such as salons, tattoo parlors, and dental offices, however this will only happen with strict social distancing precautions in place.

More details about the types of businesses that can reopen will be released by state officials later this week.

People are still being asked to practice social distancing and wear face masks while outside their homes.

Vulnerable populations, such as those over the age of 60 and with preexisting conditions, should continue to stay home, said the Governor.

In-person classes have been formally suspended for all K-12 schools through the remainder of the school year, although several large school districts, including Denver Public Schools, had already made that decision.

Health officials say there has been a leveling off of hospital admissions for COVID-19. So far 449 people have died in Colorado from the disease.

Some college students in Colorado have filed a class action lawsuit over a refusal by colleges to refund some fees in the midst of the stay at home order.

The Denver Post reports that two class action lawsuits were filed over the weekend against the University of Colorado’s Board of Regents and Colorado State University’s Board of Governors. The suits say that students pay fees separate from tuition that gives them access to events and services such as the recreation centers, bus passes, athletic events and arts performances.

An attorney representing the students told the Denver Post that many of those services are now not accessible by students and they should get the portion of their fees that cover those services, refunded.

A CU spokesperson told the Denver Post that courses continue to be delivered remotely, and that students still reap the benefits of services their fees, that cover those services paid for including a 24/7 nurse hotline, virtual fitness classes and counseling.

Construction across Colorado roads has been ramping up since the state government issued the stay-at-home order. Construction along I-70 near Denver and the I-25 South Gap projects are now ahead of schedule as low freeway traffic has allowed for closures to lanes as CDOT has reduced restrictions on day-time work.

While certain large scale projects have been propelled forward, the pandemic is threatening a majority of the other major road projects scheduled to begin this year. The Colorado Department of Transportation told the Denver Post that they worry that state borrowing plans will delay many of the projects that were part of the $1.6 billion, 3-year plan approved by state officials last November.

While the $1.6 billion only accounts for 15% of the work needed to rework Colorado’s freeway network, the pause to the spending has seen many projects paused.

State officials are hoping to receive federal dollars as part of the infrastructure stimulus plan, that will allow them to continue with planned projects.