Thread by @DenverChannel

Mayor Hancock and Public Health Executive Director Bob McDonald are providing an update on COVID-19 trends and the latest on vaccine distribution.

WATCH LIVE: bit.ly/2MAXCQT

Hancock starts news conference talking about safety around potential demonstrations ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Urges people to avoid gathering in large groups due to the pandemic.

#BREAKING: Denver has received approval from the state to implement its 5-star program, which will allow restaurants across the city and county to operate with lesser restrictions.

Hancock now talking about vaccines in Denver; says rollout can be “confusing for some folks,” and adds that the current challenge is the supply.

Mayor asks people to continue to be patient.

Hancock: “Vaccines for a few of us doesn’t mean immunity for rest of us.”

Reminds Denverites to keep wearing masks, social distancing, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.

"Still have a long way to go,” Hancock says.

Bob McDonald, Denver Dept. of Public Health and Environtment exec. dir., now speaking.

Starts by showing this slide - Denver no longer considersed as “severe outbreak.”

“But it wont take much to get back to that point,” adding folks need to "move forward with real caution."

McDonald: Absolutely no way to get out of this pandemic and return to some semblance of normal without getting the vaccine.

He says about 3.5% of Denver population has received the 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. More on this slide:

https://twitter.com/CB_Cotton/status/1349813772916023302

Here’s the current vaccine distribution plan, per McDonald.

He says the city will be focusing on locations without clinics and hospitals in order to get people vaccinated.

An important message from Bob McDonald:

“We need to stay the course,” he says, as he reminds everyone watching to continue to wear face coverings, social distance, wash hands, and avoid social gatherings.

Dr. Judy Shlay, of Denver Health, now speaking.

1st responders, community partners, health care personnel have received the vaccine, she says, adding over 1,000 people aged 70 and up have already been vaccinated at the hospital.

“We do need people to maintain some patience."

Shlay says the vaccines provides 95% protection - which is why it’s important to continue wearing masks, maintaining proper physical distancing, as well asa hand washing - “because we don't have enough vaccine to be sure everyone is safe.”

Now onto Q&A.

Question: How is the city and Denver Health ensuring the vaccine is getting into neighborhoods that are hardest hit?

McDonald says he recognizes people with more resources have been able to get the vaccine first, but the city is looking at whether to launch a mobile clinic.

Hancock says he wants people experiencing homelessness to be able to receive the vaccine sooner rather than later, and says, to date, the city doesn’t have the ability "to set our own priorities” when it comes to getting the vaccine.

Hancock mentions a letter mayors across the country sent to the incoming Biden-Harris administration, so that they can consider giving direct allocation to city governments when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine in order to “help make our objectives reality.”

Now a question about the process for Denver businesses to operate with lesser restrictions.

McDonald says city can pre-certify businesses for 5-star program, but they're not allowed to operate at lower level until Denver is under 350 cases per 100,000 people for a week.

Question: Will Denver set up a large testing site?

Hancock says - at this point - Denver is *NOT* planning on setting up a mass vaccination site, and will instead focus on smaller sites where there is lack of healthcare access.

This concludes today’s news conference where Mayor Michael Hancock, joined by Denver Public Health officials, provided an update on the city’s response to COVID-19, as well as the latest on vaccine distribution.

We’ll have a story here in a bit. Thanks for tuning in, everyone!