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February 18, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 38
U.K. variant of COVID-19 takes root in Colorado Health official takes situation in stride, but warns of other strains now in United States BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
as Madison and others he’s been named a finalist for the Grammy’s Music Educator of the Year award for 2021. This is the third time the Head Choral Director at Arvada West High School has been recognized. He was also a finalist in 2018 and 2020.
The new coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom has firmly taken root in Colorado, with the state reporting 41 cases so far. But one of Colorado’s top health officials said on Feb. 10 that there is not yet cause for alarm in the spread of the variant, as overall COVID-19 cases in the state continue to decline and cases from the variant make up a small fraction of the total. As long as Coloradans continue to maintain a high degree of mask-wearing and social distancing, mathematical models do not show the variant leading to a dramatic resurgence of cases. “We actually see very little impact from the variant” if transmission control remains high, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist. The U.K. variant — known scientifically as the B.1.1.7. variant — has been linked through modeling studies to faster rates of spread and, potentially, higher rates of deaths. Reports of all new coronavirus cases in Colorado are falling — though Herlihy said the rate of decline had slowed in the days preceding her comments. The number of patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 had dropped to levels not seen since October. The number of deaths had also declined, though around 15 people with COVID-19 are still dying per day. Because Colorado’s metrics are moving in the right direction, Herlihy said the B.1.1.7. variant may not prove to be as explosive as it was in the United Kingdom, where it emerged while the country was seeing a surge in cases. “We don’t necessarily expect the experience here to be the same as it was in the U.K.,” she said. More reassuring news is that current vaccines appear to provide strong protection against the B.1.1.7. variant, and there also haven’t been reports that the variant can sneak past the body’s immune system to cause reinfection
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SEE COVID, P16
Arvada West High School Choral Director Chris Maunu has been named a finalist for the Grammy’s Music Educator of the Year PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HICKS award for the third time in 2021. He was also a finalist in 2018 and 2020.
A-West’s Maunu hits all the right notes
Students nominate the longtime Choral Director for a Grammy Award for the third time BY MICHAEL HICKS MHICKS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It’s a Tuesday afternoon. Chris Maunu, as he is known to do, takes a few minutes to work with a student — this one who just happens to not currently be enrolled in choir — to work with them on their singing. The fact that Maunu takes time out of his day to provide extra help isn’t all that uncommon, even in the past year when classes have been remote or asynchronous. That is just who he is. “Mr. Maunu is like the most amazing teacher I’ve ever had,” Arvada West student Madison Major said. “He does so much for his students. He cares so much.” Maunu, however, says if it was not for the students who he has taught for the past 15 years that he wouldn’t be where he is. “I always tell my students that
Arvada West High School Choral Director Chris Maunu has been named a finalist for the Grammy’s Music Educator of the Year award for the third time in 2021. He was also a finalist in 2018 and 2020.
any recognitions or accolades that come my way are a reflection of their amazing voice. Teachers are nothing without great students,” he said. “But, of course, any validation especially in hard times like this year … is pretty special.” That’s why Maunu feels blessed that because of students such