>>>
>>> IF
>>> IF WE
>>> IF WE SLACK OFF THEN IT'S LIKELY ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS
MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK.
>>> PARTS OF COLORADO REOPEN AS
THE GOVERNOR ISSUES A WARNING.
>>> WITH KIDS OUT OF THE
CLASSROOM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS
STRAPPED FOR CASH WILL LOSE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> WE STARTED GETTING WORRIED
WE WERE NEVER GOING TO SEE HER
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN. >>> ONE SQUARE BLOCK COULD TELL
THE STORY OF A CITY.
>> WE WERE PRAYING EVERY DAY
WHEN SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.
>>> STORIES OF STRUGGLE,
LONELINESS, ISOLATION, AND
CELEBRATION FROM ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEIGHBORHOOD. >>> E PEOPLE ASKING FOR HELP TO
PAY THEIR RENT POST EVICTION
NOTICES OUT THE GOVERNOR'S
MANSION.
MANSION.
MANSION. >>
>>
>> >>>
>> >>> NEARLY 50 YEARS OF
CELEBRATING PRIDE.
CELEBRATING PRIDE. THIS YEAR'S PRIDEFEST WILL LOOK
LIKE NO OTHER.
9NEWS AT 10:00 STARTS NOW.
>>>
>>> COLORADO ENTERS A NEW ERA TODAY.
TODAY.
TODAY. ONE THAT THE GOVERNOR IS
CALLING SAFER AT HOME, WARNING
COLORADANS THEY NEED TO FOLLOW
THE NEW GUIDELINES OR RISK
STRICTER RULES RETURNING.
>> IT ALLOWS FOR MORE
FLEXIBILITY FOR BUSINESSES AND
IT GIVES COLORADANS SOME MORE
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL
TO DECIDE WHEN THEY SHOULD
CHOOSE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
9NEWS REPORTER KATIE EASTMAN
EXPLAINS SOME OF THE KEY POINTS
OF THE NEW ORDER.
>> Reporter: THE NEW STATE
ORDER MOVES AWAY FROM REQUIRING
COLORADANS TO STAY AT HOME TO
ENCOURAGING THEM.
ENCOURAGING THEM. THE ORDER STILL SAYS THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS NEED TO
STAY HOME, BUT OTHERS HAVE MORE
LEE WAY.
LEE WAY.
LEE WAY. >> SOMETIMES THINGS ARE EASIER
WHEN THEY ARE BLACK OR WHITE.
YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME, YOU
CAN'T GO OUT.
OR YOU CAN GO OUT.
UNFORTUNATELY THE WORLD DOESN'T
ALWAYS WORK LIKE THAT.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF GRAY.
>> Reporter: THAT WORLD OF GRAY
MEANS SLOWLY REOPENING
BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, BARS,
GYMS, CONCERT VENUES MUST
REMAIN CLOSED.
REMAIN CLOSED. TODAY RETAIL STORES WERE
ALLOWED TO BEGIN CURBSIDE
PICKUP AND REAL ESTATE COULD
RESUME HOME SHOWINGS.
ON MAY 1 RETAILERS CAN ALLOW
PEOPLE INSIDE WITH STRICT
PRECAUTIONS.
PRECAUTIONS. AND SOME PERSONAL SERVICES LIKE
HAIR SALONS AND DOG GROOMERS
CAN ALSO OPEN THEIR DOORS.
ON MAY 4 MANY OFFICES CAN OPEN
BACK UP, BUT ONLY 50% OF THE
WORKERS CAN BE THERE IN PERSON.
>> BUT IF WE SLACK OFF.
IF COLORADANS WILL LET UP.
IF LESS PEOPLE ARE WEARING
MASKS WHEN THEY ARE IN PUBLIC.
IF STORES AREN'T BEING CAREFUL
AND PERSONAL SERVICES AREN'T
BEING CAREFUL ABOUT FOLLOWING
THE GUIDELINES WE PUT OUT
TODAY, THEN IT IS LIKELY THAT
ADDITION NAILER RESTRICTIONS
MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK.
>> Reporter: UNDER THE STATE'S
SAFER AT HOME ORDER, THE
GOVERNOR IS STILL ASKING YOU TO
STAY AT HOME WHENEVER YOU CAN.
BUT IF YOU DO LEAVE, YOU SHOULD
WEAR A FACE COVERING IF YOU'RE
OUTSIDE AND AROUND PEOPLE OR IF
YOU GO TO THE STORE.
IF YOU DO HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE,
IT SHOULD BE IN A GROUP OF
FEWER THAN 10 AND EVERYONE
SHOULD BE AT LEAST SIX FEET
APART.
APART.
APART. THIS STATE ORDER IS SET TO LAST
UNTIL MAY 26.
I'M KATIE EASTMAN 9NEWS.
>>> EACH INDUSTRY HAS DIFFERENT
GUIDELINES AND SAFETY
PROTOCOLS.
PROTOCOLS. WE CAN SEND YOU A LINK TO ALL
THE DETAILS IF YOU TEXT THE
WORD SAFETY TO 303-871-1491.
>>> WHILE THIS NEW ORDER IS A
STATEWIDE ORDER, SOME COUNTIES
ARE EXTENDING MORE RESTRICTIVE
LOCAL STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS INTO
MAY.
MAY.
MAY. ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER,
BROOMFIELD, DENVER, GILPIN, AND
PITKIN COUNTIES ARE ALL
CONTINUING THEIR STAY-AT-HOME
ORDERS THROUGH MAY 8.
>>> AND WHILE THE STATE BEGAN
ITS SAFER-AT-HOME ORDER WHILE
THE COUNTY BEGAN ITS ORDER,
WHICH IS SAFER AT WORK.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE
GUIDELINES ALLOW BUSINESSES TO
REOPEN TODAY ACROSS THE BOARD.
GOVERNOR POLIS SAYS THOSE WHO
DO WOULD RECEIVE A SEIZE AND
DESIST AND THEY COULD LOSE
THEIR LICENSE.
THEIR LICENSE. SOME BUSINESSES IN WELD COUNTY
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STATE'S
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER.
DALE'S PHARMACY, FOR INSTANCE,
STARTED A CURBSIDE PICKUP A
MONTH AGO.
MONTH AGO. THEY COULD REOPEN IF THEY
CHOOSE, BUT THE OWNERS DON'T
PLAN ON MAKING ANY CHANGES.
>> IT'S KIND OF EXCITING TO SEE
SOME OF THE BUSINESSES OPEN
SLOWLY, BUT NONE OF US ARE
READY TO OPEN EVERYTHING.
>> WELD COUNTY'S SAFER-AT-WORK
PLAN STILL LIMITS GROUPS TO 10
OR FEWER AND THE COUNTY ALSO
SUGGESTS BUSINESS PUT UP
PHYSICAL BARRIERS.
PHYSICAL BARRIERS. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS SAID
COUNTIES OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS
COULD LOSE EMERGENCY GRANT
MONEY.
MONEY.
MONEY. >>> AS OF TODAY 706 PEOPLE IN
COLORADO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED
FROM COVID-19.
FROM COVID-19. 776 PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THE
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL. DOCTORS RELEASED OR TRANSFERRED
ANOTHER 53 PATIENTS WITHIN THE
LAST DAY.
LAST DAY.
LAST DAY. THERE ARE 400 NEW CONFIRMED
CASES.
CASES.
CASES. THAT BRINGS THE STATE'S TOTAL
TO MORE THAN 13,800.
>>> FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS MAKES
UP MORE THAN A THIRD OF
COLORADO'S STATE BUDGET.
AS SALES TAX, INCOME TAX, AND
OTHER REVENUE PLUMMET, SO WILL
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS.
WHILE COVID-19 HAS INFLICTED
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DISTRICTS, OUR RYAN HAARER
EXPLAINS THE WORST IS STILL YET
TO COME.
TO COME.
TO COME. >> Reporter: AT THE STATE
CAPITOL, LEGISLATORS ARE
WORKING ON A NEW BUDGET UNDER
NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN
NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
CIRCUMSTANCES. >> CUTS AT THE STATE LEVELS
WILL HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR
TEACHING AND WE WILL TRY TO
KEEP IT OUT OF THE CLASSROOM,
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT DEPENDING ON HOW BIG
THOSE CUTS ARE.
>> Reporter: THE DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS AT
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS THE
STATE'S LARGEST DISTRICT HAS
SPENT SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS
ON LAPTOPS AND HOT SPOTS TO
SUPPORT REMOTE LEARNING.
THAT UNPLANNED EXPENSE IS
NOTHING THOUGH COMPARED TO WHAT
IS NO LONGER COMING IN.
>> THE FEDERAL C.A.R.E.S ACT
WILL HELP TO OFFSET SOME OF
THAT, BUT IT WON'T DEAL WITH
THE LONG-TERM IMPACT THAT COVID
IS HAVING ON THE STATE.
THE STATE IS JUST STARTING TO
WORK ON ITS BUDGET FOR NEXT
YEAR.
YEAR.
YEAR. >>
YEAR. >> Reporter: WITHOUT SCHOOL
REVENUE, TUITION FOR PRESCHOOL
AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROJECTS
A $13.2 MILLION REVENUE LOSS
THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR. THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL
DISTRICT ANTICIPATES A $10.5
MILLION REVENUE LOSS.
JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
LOSSES COULD HIT $14.2 MILLION.
>> WHAT'S MOST CONCERNING, I
THINK PUBLIC EDUCATION IS
ALREADY STARVING IN OUR STATE.
>> Reporter: AMIE BACA-OELHERT
IS PRESIDENT OF THE COLORADO
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, LARGEST
TEACHERS UNION IN THE STATE.
THEY BOTH WORRY ABOUT HOW
BEHIND SOME KIDS MIGHT BE WHEN
THEY COME BACK IN THE FALL
AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
>> I THINK OUR STUDENTS ARE
GOING TO COME BACK IN THE FALL
WITH SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS.
NEEDS.
NEEDS. THEY'RE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: AMIE BACA-OELHERT
SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE STATE'S
LEGISLATURE TO PRIORITIZE
EDUCATOR WHO IS PROVIDE THAT
SUPPORT.
SUPPORT.
SUPPORT. INSTRUCTING DISTRICTS TO
PREPARE FOR A 1% TO 10% CUT TO
THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET. THAT'S TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FOR THE STATE'S LARGEST
DISTRICTS.
DISTRICTS. SO THEY'RE PREPARING FOR WORST-
CASE SCENARIOS AS THEY WAIT FOR
THE LEGISLATOR TO SET A BUDGET.
>> AND WHETHER IT IS LOOKING AT
OUR RESERVES AND USING SOME OF
OUR RESERVES TO OFFSET THE
IMPACTS, WHETHER IT'S FURLOUGH
DAYS OR FREEZING PAY, ALL OF
THESE ARE OPTIONS WE ARE
STARTING TO CONSIDER.
>> Reporter: IN DENVER RYAN
HAARER 9NEWS.
HAARER 9NEWS. >> DISTRICTS ARE SAVING SOME
MONEY RIGHT NOW ON THINGS LIKE
FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION, BUT
IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO COVER
THEIR LOSSES.
THEIR LOSSES. THE BUDGET FORECAST IS EXPECTED
TO BE RELEASED MAY 12.
THAT GIVES DISTRICTS ABOUT A
MONTH TO SET THEIR OWN BUDGETS.
>>> AND PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR
HELP WITH RENT.
THEY'RE NOW POSTING THEIR
EVICTION NOTICES ON THE GATES
OUTSIDE THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION
IN DENVER.
IN DENVER. ACTIVISTS HAVE ASKED THE STATE
FOR HELP, EVEN ASKED THE
GOVERNOR TO SUSPEND RENT
PAYMENTS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
CRISIS.
CRISIS.
CRISIS. DENVER CITY COUNCIL PASSED A
RESOLUTION ASKING THE GOVERNOR
TO FREEZE RENT.
GOVERNOR POLIS HAS SAID HE
DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. HE
THAT. HE HAS ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO
WORK WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO
STOP EVICTIONS.
STOP EVICTIONS. >>> IN OUR LIFETIMES THERE
HASN'T REALLY BEEN ONE STORY
THAT HAS IMPACTED EVERY SINGLE
PERSON IN SUCH AN ACUTE WAY AS
THIS.
THIS.
THIS. NO
THIS. NO CITY, TOWN, OR NEIGHBORHOOD
HAS ESCAPED SOME CONSEQUENCE
FROM THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AS 9NEWS REPORTER CHRIS
VANDERVEEN AND PHOTOJOURNALIST
CHRIS HANSON SHOWS US ONE
SQUARE BLOCK IS ABOUT ALL YOU
NEED TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE
THESE DAYS.
THESE DAYS. >> Reporter: IN THE MOST
UNUSUAL TIMES, THE WORLD, OUR
WORLD OFTEN FEELS NO BIGGER
THAN ONE BLOCK IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WE CAN'T SEE FAMILY, WE
CAN'T SEE FRIENDS.
IT'S HARD MY KIDS CAN'T SEE
THEIR GRANDPARENTS RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: STEPHANIE LIVES
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. >>
HERE. >> IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
>> Reporter: REBECCA OVER
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. >>
THERE. >> I MISS BEING AROUND PEOPLE A
LOT.
LOT.
LOT. >>
LOT. >> Reporter: AND ERICA.
>> I AM FEELING BETTER THAN I
HAVE FELT IN A LONG TIME.
>> Reporter: ERICA FINALLY
FEELS SAFE GOING OUTSIDE AFTER
A WEEK AND A HALF OF WHAT
DOCTORS BELIEVE WAS COVID.
>> I MEAN IT'S CRAZY TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WINDED I COULD GET
JUST BRINGING A LOAD OF LAUNDRY
UP THE STAIRS.
>> Reporter: IF THIS IS A
BATTLE, NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE
BECOME MODERN DAY FRONT LINES.
>> OUR NEW NORMAL IS DOING A
LOT OF SCHOOL FROM HOME.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING GOING ON THAT WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING
OURSELVES.
OURSELVES. >> YOU CAN'T GO VISIT YOUR
FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
CAN'T DO THE THINGS YOU WOULD
NORMALLY DO.
NORMALLY DO. >> Reporter: FRONT LINES FILLED
WITH STORIES OF STRUGGLE.
>> EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD AND
THAT'S THE HARD PART TOO.
>> Reporter: STORIES.
>> YEAH, IT WAS TOUGH.
>> Reporter: OF SACRIFICE.
ASK TOM WHO IS JUST DOWN THE
ROAD.
ROAD.
ROAD. >>
ROAD. >> WE DON'T KNOW HOW SHE GOT
THE CORONAVIRUS, WE REALLY
DON'T.
DON'T.
DON'T. >>
DON'T. >> Reporter: RUSHED TO THE
E.R., HIS WIFE OF 30 YEARS
COULD HARDLY BREATHE.
INSIDE A VISTA HOSPITAL IN
LOUISVILLE, DOCTORS DECIDED
ONLY A VENTILATOR MIGHT SAVE
HER LIFE.
HER LIFE.
HER LIFE. >> JUST A LOT OF UNKNOWNS.
>> Reporter: WORD SPREAD LIKE
WORDS TEND TO SPREAD.
>> SO I FOUND OUT SHE WAS SICK
FROM HER HUSBAND, TOM.
>> WE STARTED GETTING WORRIED
WE WERE NEVER GOING TO SEE HER
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN. >>
AGAIN. >> THAT WAS REALLY HARD TO
HEAR.
HEAR.
HEAR. >>
HEAR. >> Reporter: SO FOR SIX DAYS
NEIGHBORS DID WHAT NEIGHBORS
TEND TO DO.
>> WE WERE PRAYING FOR HER
EVERY DAY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL. >> Reporter: UNTIL ONE DAY.
>> OKAY, HERE WE GO.
>> Reporter: A WOMAN SO DEARLY
MISSED DID SOMETHING MOST COVID
PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS NEVER
DO, WHICH IS WHY IT'S ALMOST
CERTAINLY AS GOOD OF A TIME AS
EVER TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NANCY
CLARK.
CLARK.
CLARK. >>
CLARK. >> IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> WELL HOW THE HECK ARE YOU?
>> I'LL TELL YOU IT'S BEEN A
DOWN DROUGHT.
DOWN DROUGHT. >> Reporter: FROM THE SECOND
FLOOR OF A HOSPITAL, STAFFED BY
PEOPLE WHO SAVED HER LIFE,
NANCY RECALLED THE MOMENT SHE
REOPENED HER EYES.
>> I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS, I
HAD NO IDEA -- I HAD NO IDEA
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
THAT PART JUST SCARED ME TO
DEATH.
DEATH.
DEATH. >>
DEATH. >> Reporter: SCARED TO DEATH,
YET VERY MUCH ALIVE.
SHE WAS READY TO GO.
>> I FEEL PRETTY FORTUNATE THAT
I AM -- I WOULDN'T TRADE MY KID
OR MY HUSBAND FOR ANYTHING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] IT'S
LIKE I WANT TO GO HOME, I JUST
WANT TO GO HOME.
AND GET MY LIFE BACK.
>> Reporter: THAT DAY IN
COLORADO 203 COVID PATIENTS
LEFT COLORADO HOSPITALS AND
HEADED HOME.
HEADED HOME. >> YOU'RE GOING HOME.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M GOING HOME!
>> Reporter: HOME.
>>
>> IT
>> IT WAS
>> IT WAS HARD. I MEAN WE PRAYED A LOT FOR HER.
WE'RE HAPPY SHE'S HOME.
>> Reporter: IN THE MOST
UNUSUAL OF TIMES OUR WORLD
FEELS SMALLER.
FEELS SMALLER. >> NO, IT'S NOT THE SAME AT
ALL.
ALL.
ALL. >>
ALL. >> Reporter: BUT IT IS HERE
NEIGHBORHOODS FILLED WITH
NEIGHBORS.
NEIGHBORS. >> SHE LOVES CATS.
>> Reporter: IT IS HERE WHERE
SMALL VICTORIES ARE CELEBRATED.
>> IT'S NICE TO HAVE HER HOME.
>> CELEBRATED IN DEEPLY
PERSONAL WAYS.
PERSONAL WAYS. >> IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
>> Reporter: JUST ASK TOM WHO
IS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> YEAH, I'M JUST GLAD SHE'S
HOME FINALLY.
HOME FINALLY. >> Reporter: NANCY IS HOME.
>> I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE.
I FEEL VERY LUCKY.
I FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE AT THE
HOSPITAL SAVED MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN THIS IS
ALL OVER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANS ON CELEBRATING THIS LIKE
NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO DO
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. >> I WAS SO EXCITED JUST TO
COME HOME.
COME HOME. >> Reporter: CHRIS VANDERVEEN.
>> AND IT WAS AS GOOD AS I
EXPECTED IT TO BE.
>> 9NEWS.
>> 9NEWS.
>> 9NEWS. >> JUST WITHIN THE LAST TWO
WEEKS THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH STARTED TO
RELEASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS
GETTING DISCHARGED EVERY DAY.
>>> THAT PROVIDES NEIGHBORHOODS
LIKE NANCY'S IN