Thread by @DenverChannel

Denver officials are expected to announce a new curfew to try to curb the continued rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city. Watch live: thedenverchannel.com/live2

Mayor Michael Hancock begins talking about voting and the election, saying he’s thankful to see so many people show up. He’s now discussing #COVID19. Colorado has made a list of top 10 with the sixth highest rate for COVID-19 increases and hospitalizations.

Another stay at home order is a tool in the toolbox. Hancock says there’s another stay at home order in our future if we don’t act with care and change our behavior. “What you’re saying to everyone is my bad decisions are more important than your family’s health.”

We need everyone working together to reverse this trend, Hancock said. He met with Dr. Birx, the coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and her advice was sobering. We need to discourage large social gatherings and people from different houses getting together.

A stay at home order can be avoided if we slow this spread. Today, Hancock announced a Home By 10 order restricting night time hours, particularly for bars, clubs and restaurants. It’ll take effect Sunday and meant to discourage for 30 days gathering outside of the home.

He recognized Thanksgiving falls in this time frame. Hancock said this doesn’t mean Thanksgiving is cancelled, but he urged everyone to think different about Thanksgiving this year.

This order also prohibits spectators at high school and college athletic events. It halts recreational athletic events. DDPHE will more aggressive with enforcement, though they can’t enforce their way out of the pandemic. People need to be more responsible individually.

He said if everyone works to stay home now, hopefully, more people can be together this holiday season. With that, it moves over to Executive Director Bob McDonald. Their data shows we’ve far exceeded the number of cases for a stay at home order.

Because it’s not the only metric, they’re not choosing that path right now. In the last 24 hours, they’ve seen an additional almost 700 cases. Hospitalizations and positivity rate are going up. If we continue this way, estimated ICU capacity could be overwhelmed by late December.

Seeing older adults being admitted again to the hospital. McDonald emphasized younger adults who feel they can withstand it, they can asymptomatically transfer to someone who is immunocompromised. He also said this isn’t about enforcement. It’s about getting numbers down.

Because outbreaks are being reported daily, it’s becoming increasingly difficult with case management and outbreak investigation. McDonald encouraged anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed get tested.

McDonald noted, while the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. order will be in place, of course, there are exemptions for critical businesses, people traveling through Denver, first responders, school systems, etc.

He goes back to testing saying to contact health care providers. If you’re not insured or underinsured, go to a testing site. If you’re homebound, they’ll come to you. McDonald also said to download the phone app that helps with contact tracing.

Onto Q&A. The first question is in regards to whether or not a curfew will be enough and a stay at home order is inevitable. McDonald doesn’t think it is, but they need everyone to contribute to these orders because this is a last effort.

The next question is for McDonald to explain further what enforcement looks like. He said this is an order, but it’s not about issuing tickets and closing businesses. They’re receiving more than a dozen complaints a day of large groups not complying.

The next question is about elaborating on whether it’s pushing off possible of a possible stay at home order. McDonald says they use great discretion on public health orders because they know the impact. So, he thinks doing this is the right thing to try to avoid stay at home.

The next question is whether they think people should avoid restaurants and retail. Hancock said no, but it has to be done safely. Businesses will close at 10 p.m. but the best way to stop the spread is to stay within your family. McDonald agrees and says don’t gather and wear...

... masks and you can go shopping, go out to eat, but stay with your household.

The next question is about if they have proof the curfew will slow transmission. McDonald said there’s a high rate of asymptotic people involved in transmission. They’re looking at everything they can and there’s no easy solution.

Another question is if there’s penalties for violating the order? There’s a potential fine and 300 days in jail, though no one has been out in jail and they’re not actively going door to doe, but they expect a high level of compliance.

The next question is why they’ve been hesitant to call it a curfew? Hancock said they’re strongly urging people to go home at 10 p.m. a curfew is a public safety measure to keep people safe.

More on the last question and Hancock said people are asked to be home from a restaurant by 10 p.m., for instance, though if you go take your dog for a walk or go for a walk after 10, that’s not what they’re concerned about. It’s the co-mingling in public.

The next question is asking to clarify on the statement of if this is the last tool in the toolbox and if we’ll see a stay at home order if it doesn’t work? McDonald said he doesn’t think that’s what’s being said. They want to do everything they can to avoid it.

Hancock jumps in and said we’ve learned a lot since March and April and we want to avoid a stay at home order and we can have other measures that allow people to remain active in their lives.

Another question is about who’s shopping up to, for example, a house party? McDonald said complaints come through various means and the department of safety is responding to many of those.

The last question is who’s considered an essential business allowed to stay open after 10? McDonald said they don’t have a comprehensive list right this moment, but certainly grocery stores, pharmacies, essential manufacturing and they’ll have an FAQ out soon.

Hancock added the airport and medical facilities would be exempt to. With that, Hancock said they don’t consider it a curfew, but rather urging people to be home by 10 p.m. It’s about saving lives.