>>>
>>> IT
>>> IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THOUSANDS OF FIRST
RESPONDERS IN COLORADO.
NOW IT'S LEFT WONDERING WHETHER
THE TESTS THAT THEY NEED TO GET
BACK TO WORK IS AS GOOD AS
ADVERTISED.
ADVERTISED. >> AN ISSUE IS MUCH TALKED
ABOUT, DISTRIBUTED BY COLORADO-
BASED AYTU BIOSCIENCES.
NBC REPORTS AYTU BROUGHT THIS
TEST FROM CHINA EVEN THOUGH A
REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN CHINA
NEVER APPROVED THOSE TESTS.
9NEWS REPORTER MARC SALLINGER
SHOWS US HOW DENVER IS MAKING
SURE THESE TESTS THAT ARE BEING
USED RIGHT NOW ARE ACCURATE.
>> Reporter: THE TESTS GET
RESULTS IN MINUTES.
THAT'S WHY THE DENVER
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
PICKED UP 2,750 RAPID TESTS
FROM AYTU BIOSCIENCE EARLIER
THIS MONTH.
THIS MONTH. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE GOT 2,500 OF THEM AS
WELL.
WELL.
WELL. BOB
WELL. BOB MCDONALD WITH THE DENVER
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT SAYS TESTING LIKE
THIS IS NEEDED TO REOPEN THE
STATE.
STATE.
STATE. >>
STATE. >> AND SO IT WILL TELL US A
PERSON HAS BEEN EXPOSED,
DEVELOPED ANTIBODIES TO THE
VIRUS.
VIRUS.
VIRUS. >>
VIRUS. >> Reporter: A NEW
INVESTIGATION FROM NBC NEWS
REVEALED THE TESTS SHIPPED TO
THE UNITED STATES FROM CHINA
WERE NOT APPROVED FOR USE BY
THE CHINESE EQUIVALENT OF THE
U.S. FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. THE FDA RELAXED GUIDELINES IN
MID MARCH ALLOWING MORE TESTS
LIKE THESE TO BE USED HERE EVEN
THOUGH IT IS NOT FDA APPROVED.
>> IT IS A VERY SIMPLE TEST
THAT COULD BE PERFORMED AT THE
POINT OF CARE RIGHT AT THE
PATIENT'S POINT OF CARE.
A SMALL DROP OF BLOOD IS
DROPPED ONTO A DISPOSABLE
DEVICE.
DEVICE.
DEVICE. IT SENSES SENSUALLY THE
ANTIBODY, THE COVID ANTIBODY.
>> Reporter: AYTU BIOSCIENCES
IS BASED IN ENGLEWOOD.
WE SPOKE TO THE CEO LAST MONTH
AFTER THE COMPANY SECURED ITS
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO SELL THE
CHINESE MADE TESTS HERE IN THE
U.S.
U.S.
U.S. >>
U.S. >> WE HAVE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT
ATTENTION FROM ALL A OVER THE
WORLD.
WORLD.
WORLD. >>
WORLD. >> IT IS CRITICAL WE HAVE THIS
TYPE OF INFORMATION.
>> Reporter: DENVER POLICE
CHIEF SAYS HE BELIEVES THE
TESTS ARE ACCURATE, BUT DOESN'T
RELY ON THEM SOLELY.
IF ONE OF HIS OFFICERS GETS A
PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE, THE
PERSON IS REFERRED TO DENVER
HEALTH FOR FURTHER TESTING.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO COLLECT AS
MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE,
AND THIS IS JUST ONE TOOL IN A
TOOL BOX TO HELP US.
>> Reporter: IF ACCURATE, TOOLS
THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE WHEN
TO REOPEN THE STATE.
IN DENVER I'M MARC SALLINGER
9NEWS.
9NEWS.
9NEWS. >>
9NEWS. >> WE REACHED OUT TO AYTU
BIOSCIENCE AND HAVE NOT HEARD
BACK.
BACK.
BACK. IN
BACK. IN A PRESS RELEASE THE COMPANY
SAID IT IS WORKING TO BE ABLE
TO DISTRIBUTE ANOTHER RAPID
ANTIBODY TEST BEING BROUGHT IN
FROM CHINA.
FROM CHINA. IT SAYS THIS NEW TEST HAS
ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR
EXPORT.
EXPORT.
EXPORT. IT'LL REQUIRE THE WORKERS ARE
IN CRITICAL BUSINESSES AND IN
CRITICAL FUNCTIONS LIKE GROCERY
STORE WORKERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND
STAFF AT THE SENIOR CARE
FACILITIES.
FACILITIES. WHO ARE GOING TO WORK EACH DAY
TO PROTECT OUR SENIORS OR OUR
FOOD SUPPLY OR OUR ROADS.
WHERE THEY INTERACT WITH OTHERS
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, THEY NEED
TO WEAR A MASK.
>> MASKS ARE NOW MANDATORY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO
WORK AT LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES, ALL BY ORDER OF THE
GOVERNOR WHO SAYS SOME OF THE
SENIOR CARE HOMES STILL DON'T
HAVE A PLAN FOR THE PANDEMIC.
>> AND WE REALLY NEED TO STEP
UP OUR STEPS HERE FOR OUR LONG-
TERM CARE FACILITIES.
TODAY WE ARE UPDATING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER TO REQUIRE
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES TO
DEVELOP A DETAIL ISOLATION PLAN
AND SUBMIT IT TO THE COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BY MAY 1.
AND ALSO ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT
WE ARE DEPLOYING THE COLORADO
NATIONAL GUARD TO CONDUCT
TESTING AT THREE OF THE LARGEST
NURSING HOMES IN THE STATE TO
HELP PREVENT OUTBREAKS.
>> THE 9WANTS TO KNOW TEAM HAS
FOUND AT LEAST 138 PEOPLE
LIVING IN NURSING HOMES AND
OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 500
CONFIRMED CASES OF THOSE
FACILITIES.
FACILITIES. >>> JUST OVER 9,000 PEOPLE IN
COLORADO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE
FOR THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-
19.
19.
19. AS
19. AS OF
19. AS OF THURSDAY AFTERNOON MORE
THAN 4,300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TESTED.
TESTED.
TESTED. 391 HAVE DIED.
MORE THAN 1,700 HAVE BEEN
HOSPITALIZED SINCE ALL OF THIS
BEGAN, BUT HUNDREDS HAVE GONE
HOME.
HOME.
HOME. GOVERNOR POLIS SAID 203
PATIENTS HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED
IN THE PAST DAY.
>>> MORE THAN 701,000 PEOPLE
HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE
VIRUS.
VIRUS.
VIRUS. THIS IS ACROSS THE NATION.
ACCORDING TO JOHNS HOPKINS
UNIVERSITY, THAT'S NEARLY FOUR
TIMES THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE
PATIENTS IN SPAIN, WHICH IS THE
COUNTRY WITH THE SECOND MOST
CASES WORLDWIDE.
CASES WORLDWIDE. NEW YORK STILL THE STATE WITH
THE MOST POSITIVE CASES AND
ABOUT 224,000.
ABOUT 224,000. THE CDC SAYS THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-
19 IN THE U.S. IS NEARING
13,000.
13,000.
13,000. >>> THE STATE EXPECTS 200 BEDS
AT THE CONVENTION CENTER COULD
BE USED TO ISOLATE SENIOR
CITIZENS IF BY EARLY MAY
INDEPENDENT FACILITIES DON'T
HAVE ROOM TO DO THAT ON THEIR
OWN.
OWN.
OWN. THE
OWN. THE FIELD HOSPITAL OF THE
CONVENTION CENTER WAS SUPPOSE
TO BE ABLE TO GO LIVE TOMORROW
TO TAKE THE STRESS OFF OF O THE
HOSPITALS.
HOSPITALS. THE HOSPITALS AS YOU KNOW ARE
WELL WITHIN CAPACITY.
PLANS WERE SCALED BACK AS THE
HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DEAL WITH THE SURGE IN CASES.
>>> IT WILL BE NEXT WEEK BEFORE
DENVER HAS MORE SOCIALLY
DISTANCED SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE HOMELESS.
ARE HOMELESS. THE PLAN IS TO USE THE DENVER
COLISEUM TO HOUSE UP TO 300
WOMEN.
WOMEN.
WOMEN. THAT SHOULD BE READY NEXT WEEK.
MEN CAN ALREADY STAY AT THE
NATIONAL WESTERN COMPLEX.
THE CITY WOULD LIKE HOTELS AND
MOTELS TO PROVIDE 3,300 ROOMS
TO ISOLATE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT
RISK OR WHO ARE SHOWING
SYMPTOMS AND HAVE NOWHERE ELSE
TO GO.
TO GO.
TO GO. AGAIN THEY WANT MORE THAN 3,000
AND THE CITY SAYS THEY HAVE
LINED UP 552.
>>> ANOTHER 104,000 COLORADANS
FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AS OF
LAST WEEK.
LAST WEEK. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE IN THE STATE TO HAVE
FILED A CLAIM TO MORE THAN
231,000.
231,000.
231,000. THAT'S JUST IN FOUR WEEKS AS OF
APRIL 11.
APRIL 11.
APRIL 11. THIS STATE HAS PAID OUT OVER
$109 MILLION WORTH OF BENEFITS.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
UNEMPLOYMENT RELEASED DATA
TODAY SHOWING THE NUMBER OF
CLAIMS TO THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
CLAIMS IN ACCOMMODATIONS AND
FOOD SERVICE AS EXPECTED.
ABOUT 46,000 WORKERS IN THAT
INDUSTRY FILED CLAIMS FROM THE
WEEKS OF MARCH 7 TO APRIL 4.
>>> PEOPLE WHO WERE SELF-
EMPLOYED, INDEPENDENT
EMPLOYED, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, GIG WORKERS CAN
FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND IT
STARTS MONDAY.
STARTS MONDAY. THIS IS A CHANGE HERE.
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND EMPLOYMENT SAYS THOSE
WORKERS WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR AN EXTRA $600 ON TOP OF
WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
THEY TYPICALLY WERE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH BENEFITS
BEFORE THE FEDERAL CARES ACT.
THE STATE HAS RETOOLED THEIR
WEBSITE AND OUTSOURCED TO
ANOTHER CALL CENTER TO HANDLE
THE DEMAND.
THE DEMAND. >> WE KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SEE CLAIMS GROW.
NOW WITH THE ADDITIONAL
AVAILABILITY OF BENEFITS TO
WORKERS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN
COVERED BEFORE.
COVERED BEFORE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DEMAND
WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT WE WANT TO
ASSURE YOU WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE WHO IS ENTITLED
TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
BENEFITS DURING THESE TIMES HAS
ACCESS TO APPLY FOR THOSE
BENEFITS AND RECEIVE THOSE
BENEFITS.
BENEFITS.
BENEFITS. >> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR WILL HOLD TWO VIRTUAL
TOWN HALLS ON MONDAY MORNING.
ONE IS IN ENGLISH AT 9:15
FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER SESSION IN
SPANISH AT 11:30.
YOU CAN FIND THE LINK TO
REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE
9NEWS.COM.
9NEWS.COM. >>> BOULDER IN DENVER FINISHING
UP THE TWO SNOWIEST SEASONS.
BOULDER BEAT OUT PLACES LIKE
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND MARKET,
WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN. THOSE ARE USUALLY THE TWO TOP
SPOTS.
SPOTS.
SPOTS. BOULDER SAW OVER 151 INCHES OF
SNOW THIS SEASON.
DENVER GOT MORE THAN 57 INCHES
OF SNOW THIS SEASON, THE MOST
FOR ANY CITY WITH MORE THAN
HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.
>>> DESPITE HITTING A THIRD
RECORD LOW FOR THE WEEK THIS
MORNING, THE SUN CAME OUT
MELTING THE SNOW AROUND TOWN.
WE WISH FOR THAT KIND OF
SUNSHINE TOMORROW.
SUNSHINE TOMORROW. BECKY WILL JOIN WITH US A LOOK
AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST.
>>> TWO PROBLEMS LED TO ONE
PRETTY CREATIVE SOLUTION.
BOULDER AND VARIOUS GENEROUS
DONATIONS FOUND A WAY TO HELP
HUNGRY FRONT-LINE WORKERS.
JENNIFER MECKLES SHOWS US THE
WORK BEHIND FEEDING THE FRONT
LINE.
LINE.
LINE. >>
LINE. >> Reporter: ACROSS COLORADO
RESTAURANT DINING ROOMS ARE
CLOSED.
CLOSED.
CLOSED. BUT IN BOULDER TRUNKS ARE WIDE
OPEN AND READY TO SERVE A MEAL.
>> WE'VE BEEN FEEDING THE
DOCTORS AND NURSES FROM THE
LOCAL HOSPITALS AND TODAY WE
GOT TO DONATE.
>> Reporter: BOULDER POLICE
WILL ENJOY THIS MEAL WHERE
OWNERS AND SISTERS, JILL,
JESSICA, AND JENNIFER HAVE
JOINED THE FEED THE FRONTLINE
EFFORT.
EFFORT.
EFFORT. >> NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE
HEROES AT THE HOSPITAL AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT
SUPPORTING THE RESTAURANTS AS
WELL, WHICH IS SO VITAL RIGHT
NOW TO KEEP THE MAGIC ALIVE IN
OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN.
>> AND IT IS ALSO GOING TO LIFT
SPIRITS.
SPIRITS.
SPIRITS. >> Reporter: LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR
ALONG WITH A FRIEND CAME UP
WITH THIS IDEA.
>> WE ARE GETTING DONATIONS
FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS GOING TOWARDS
PURCHASING THESE MEALS FROM THE
LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT ARE
OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING AT TIMES.
AND THOSE ARE GOING TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF
THIS FIGHT AGAINST COVID.
SO PEOPLE WHO ARE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS, EMS, EVEN PEOPLE WHO
ARE CLEANING STAFF A. REALLY
EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
AS A PART OF THIS FIGHT.
>> Reporter: THE BOULDER
COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION WHO
SERVES ON THE BOARD IS
COLLECTING THESE DONATIONS WITH
MORE THAN $550,000 DONATED SO
FAR.
FAR.
FAR. >>
FAR. >> AND YOU KNOW IT IS VERY
HEARTFELT AND IT FEELS LIKE A
BEAUTIFUL OFFERING TO BE ABLE
TO DO IT.
TO DO IT.
TO DO IT. >> DINING ROOMS MAY BE CLOSED,
BUT MANY KITCHENS AND HEARTS
ARE READY TO OPEN.
>> JENNIFER MECKLES 9NEWS.
>>> SCHOOLS ARE ADJUSTING HOW
THEY ARE GRADING STUDENTS RIGHT
NOW, MAKING SURE THE HARDWORK
WILL PAY OFF.
>>> NIGHT CARE COLORADO SHARES
FOOD DRIVE IS STILL GOING,
WHERE WE ARE PARTNERING WITH
THREE BONNEVILLE RADIO STATIONS
AT KING SOOPERS.
SOUTH OF THE FOOD BANK AND THE
ROCKIES.
ROCKIES.
ROCKIES. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH
THIS, YOUR NEIGHBORS WOULD
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEM.
HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
HAS