Denver Mayor Michael Hancock told The Denver Post on Tuesday that he will extend his stay-at-home order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed five people in the city.
“April 30 looks like it’s going to become the new target,” he said.
Hancock first ordered residents to stay home from March 24 until April 10, closing nonessential businesses and public places in Denver and cementing social distancing recommendations with the possibility of legal enforcement.
Gov. Jared Polis, initially resistant to doing the same for all of Colorado, followed suit two days later with a statewide order that’s effective through April 11. Hancock adopted the language of Polis’ statewide order Friday to eliminate confusion between the two stay-at-home directives.
It’s unclear whether Polis will soon extend his statewide order but even President Donald Trump — once hopeful the country would reopen by Easter on April 12 — extended social distancing recommendations through April 30.
Under the city extension, the details of the order will remain the same: Restaurants can still offer carryout and delivery. Denver International Airport will continue to operate and group activities are prohibited in city parks. Liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries and firearm retailers are allowed to remain open as well.
Since his initial order, Hancock has taken to Twitter to check in on residents, offer a few activity suggestions for those staying at home and review acceptable reasons to leave home.
Hey Denver. I'm checking in to see how everyone is doing during the #StayAtHomeOrder. I hope you've been able to get to complete some things you haven't been able to get to in a while…finishing a puzzle, watching a movie and spending more time with loved ones. pic.twitter.com/kLN8mdbC60
— Michael B. Hancock (@MayorHancock) March 30, 2020
City officials also closed certain roads and parking lots around Denver’s parks to further discourage social gatherings.
During our current Stay at Home Order, @denverparksrec will be closing roads & parking lots to discourage social gatherings in our parks. Please remember to practice physical distancing when walking, running or biking. Park rangers will be out enforcing. https://t.co/SBZFPUu53L pic.twitter.com/VkQYGq1GZx
— City and County of Denver (@CityofDenver) March 27, 2020
Reports of the virus’ spread slowing in national hot spots like Seattle indicate that social distancing measures like stay-at-home orders are effective. They have steep costs, however.
The unemployment rate in Colorado is expected to double in the next three weeks, and many who’ve lost their jobs or seen their hours cut back are worried about their ability to pay their rent or mortgage.
The restrictions are cause for concern for domestic abuse victims forced to remain with their abusers.
And Denver is struggling to find enough individual spaces for those experiencing homelessless even as two positive cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, hit that population last week.
This story is developing and will be updated.
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