August 6, 2020
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 34
Colo. health leaders see easing of COVID surge But top state epidemiologist won’t declare victory yet BY JOHN INGOLD AND JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
A student walks at Cherry Creek High School’s graduation July 30.
COURTESY PHOTO
After ‘unexpected detour,’ seniors graduate together Cherry Creek district high schools gather for in-person ceremonies BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After the unorthodox celebrations where Cherry Creek School Dis-
trict graduates cruised through car parades in their caps and gowns this spring, the students had the chance to experience their proper rite of passage together at in-person gradu-
ation ceremonies at the end of July and early August. “You look fantastic, here, together,” SEE GRADUATE, P6
Cherry Creek schools switch back to ‘blended’ plan ‘We’ll be remote until the data tells us it’s safe’ BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Citing a web of recommendations from Colorado’s public health and education officials — and as the rate of COVID-19 cases has ramped up for
several weeks in Arapahoe County — the Cherry Creek School District announced a shift back to a fall plan that places older students in school and at home on different days of the week. But still to be determined at press time was whether to start the school year with any in-person learning at all. That decision was expected to be made on Aug. 6. (Check CentennialCitizen.net for
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
updates.) As things stand now, school will start as planned on Aug. 17, and students who enrolled in online class will start remotely regardless. District officials were pushing to open in-person class in a way that guards students’ health, but “we’ll be remote until the data tells us it’s
PERIODICAL
FROM SWAN DIVES TO FIGURE EIGHTS
Denver’s Smith Lake once was a yearround resort P14
SEE SCHOOLS, P17
Colorado’s latest surge of coronavirus cases appears to have stabilized as a statewide mask mandate and limitations on serving alcohol take hold, state health leaders said July 31. Jill Hunsaker Ryan, the head of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said the latest data appear to show that the reproduction value for the virus — the average number of people that an infected person passes the virus onto, also known as the R0 — has dropped to 1. If further data bear that out, it means Colorado is no longer experiencing exponential growth of cases and the horror scenario of overwhelmed hospitals will be avoided. “That is absolutely great news for us and reassuring to see,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist at CDPHE. As recently as a couple weeks ago, the R0 had been around 1.7 — meaning that a single case could lead to more than 280 additional infections within a month or two. But Herlihy said the latest numbers show stabilization in both the number of people hospitalized with SEE EASING, P10