DENVER – Colorado has reached 967 deaths from the coronavirus, and more than 19,300 people have tested positive for the illness, state health officials said.
The state Department of Public Health and Environment said Saturday more than 100,000 people have now been tested for COVID-19.
State data show more than 3,600 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak. Fewer than 600 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Friday.
On Saturday, a host of Denver businesses – from clothing stores to hair salons – opened their doors for the first time in nearly two months as Mayor Michael Hancock’s stay-at-home order expired, The Denver Post reported. Business owners who have been hard hit financially say it’s the only way to stay afloat as they try to recoup lost sales while giving their employees a much-needed paycheck.
But despite the go-ahead from city leaders, many business owners are choosing to keep their stores shut, at least for now. Those who have made the choice not to resume walk-in business anytime soon say there is simply not enough evidence yet that bringing workers and customers back into their spaces is safe and won’t contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
Steve Weil, president of Rockmount Ranch Wear, has been able to ship his Western apparel to stores around the world for the past two months. But his family-owned business has still taken a hit.
“It was not a hard decision,” Weil said about reopening Saturday. “It’s essential to the well-being of our economy.”
Retail stores won’t be able to just resume normal activity. Shops can only have a limited number of customers browsing, and shoppers must wear masks and stay 6 feet away from others.
For Abrean SophiaMarie, reopening her Bee Sweet hair business this weekend just feels too soon. The co-owner plans to see how everything plays out over the next few weeks at other hair salons before deciding on an opening date.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, and the vast majority recover. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
