Today on Colorado Edition: we’ll learn about COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes around the state. Plus, we’ll hear about apprenticeship programs, and get ideas for how to safely celebrate Thanksgiving this year.
COVID-19 At Colorado Nursing Homes
Gov. Polis said today that one in 41 Coloradans now have COVID-19. Residents at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities remain at particular risk for bad outcomes if they catch the virus. 44% of the 2,355 deaths in Colorado due to COVID-19 have been residents of nursing homes or assisted living or combined care centers.
That’s according to a data analysis by KUNC’s Michael de Yoanna, who notes dozens of the deaths happened in facilities with active outbreaks. But how is this happening if the facilities are closed to all but essential visitors? Michael joined us with more.
Vet Tech Apprenticeships
Polis declared November Colorado Apprenticeship Month in recognition of the role these programs play in helping people gain in-demand skills, while earning a paycheck at the same time. Apprenticeships are even more important now as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel has more on a new community college program and some of the occupations it's branching into.
Thanksgiving Safety
The pandemic holiday season is officially here. Coloradans fatigued by nine months of COVID-19 related restrictions might be in need of some good holiday cheer. But public health officials are worried.
Dr. Eric France is chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. He joined us to talk us through those concerns and offer Thanksgiving advice from a public health perspective.
What Thanksgiving Can Learn From Passover
State guidelines strongly encourage people to stay put and connect with friends and family virtually. They say attending an in-person celebration with other households, amounts to putting yourself, your family, and your community at risk.
That’s a tough thing to hear ahead of the holiday season.
Of course, not everyone wants to, or is able to, spend the holidays with others, but for those of us who could use some help coming to grips with this year’s scaled-back gatherings, we realized there was a precedent for this — a group of people who had to figure this out way back last spring.
KUNC’s Rae Solomon wanted to see what the rest of us could learn from their experience.
Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!
Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs.
Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman, and produced by Lily Tyson. The web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. KUNC news director Brian Larson is our executive producer. We get production help from Rae Solomon.
KUNC's Colorado Edition is a news magazine taking an in-depth look at the issues and culture of Northern Colorado. It's available on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC's air, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m., with a rebroadcast of the previous evening's show Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.
