What do I think of blogging?

As the semester comes to an end I think about the last five weeks of blogging and I find myself really sad to be done with this class and my blog. I have really enjoyed blogging and think that it is a great way to tell a story. I really liked blogging because it allowed me to become a better writer and researcher. I also enjoyed coming up with new topics each week and really thinking about what information would useful for my readers. 

I really liked being able to update my blog each week and as new information came out about Covid-19 I was able to give the most updated information. One thing I didn’t like about blogging was that some weeks I struggled to come up with new ideas for a blog post that wouldn’t sound too similar to a post I had already written. 

I think I will continue to blog, I enjoyed blogging more than I thought I would.  I enjoyed being able to share weekly information about a beat I choose. Although I don’t think I  will continue to blog about the same beat because I was struggling to come up different ideas for new blog posts. 

I think blogging is a great way to tell a story. Blogs are nice because you can tell multiple stories that all relate back to your beat. Some of the posts can be very different from each other but still tell a similar story to the rest. With regular stories you don’t always get to tell different sides of a story or a story that relates to the original story. With blogs you can tell a wide verity of stories. 

One thing I do wish I had know before starting  this class was how creative you can get with your blog. I didn’t realize I could spice my stories  up with picture or that I would be able to design the way my blog looked.

The Denver Zoo, Aquarium and the Butterfly Pavilion

As more and more bunnies re-open it’s good to keep informed on how some of these businesses are going to look with new guidelines  and restrictions. 

 

The Denver Zoo is now open to the public but has a lot of new changes that will help keep both animals and guest safe. The Denver Zoo now requires people to buy tickets online, that will help limit the amount of people within the zoo. The tickets purchased online will have times in which people can enter the zoo. The times will be staggered 15 minutes apart keeping the large amounts of people from entering. The zoo is also not accepting cash and has a one way path through the zoo. 

The Butterfly Pavilion has decided not to open for the summer to protect the health and safety of the community and their employees. Any tickets bought before they closed will be good until December 31st. 

The Denver Aquarium is also now open and says they plan to follow the states guidelines. The Aquarium is limiting how many people are allowed to walk through the exhibit. The Aquarium says that their 4D theater will remain closed. Their restaurant is open for dine-in inside and on their patio.

How Colorado’s numbers compare to other states

As things begin to re-open in Colorado and more people begin to leave their homes you might be wondering if our Coivd-19 cases and deaths have risen and how we compare to other states. As of June 24h there have been 31,155 cases reported in Colorado, that number has gone up from the prior day when the numbers where at 30,893 cases. 

There have also been a total of 1,667 deaths among those who have tested positive, that has risen from 1,665 the previous day. The number of deaths from those have died due to Covid-19 is at 1,457 up from 1,455 the day prior. The number of hospitalized deaths from the virus is also up, the previous day it was at 5,366, now it’s at 5,375. 

The safer-at-home orders have been extended to July 1st by Governor Polis. Polis has also singed an executive order that will extend the state of disaster emergency and providing additional funds for response activities due to the presence of Covid-19. 

The total amount of cases reported in the United States as a whole is at 2,336,615 that is 34,313 new cases within the United States. The number of deaths due to Covid-19 is 121,117 with 784 new deaths.

Colorado’s numbers are definitely on the higher scale, as you can see in the map Colorado currently is in the 20,000 to 40,000 reported cases range which is the second to highest ranking in the nation. The state’s who have had more reported cases are colored in dark blue that range is 40,001 or more Covid-19 cases. 

Texas, California, Florida, New York, Arizona and other east cost states have been hit the hardest and are currently in the dark blue range. Texas has 120,370 cases with a total of 2,220 deaths. California has 183,072 cases and a total of 5,580 deaths. California currently has the highest amount of cases.

 New York has 176,029 cases and a total of 8,627 deaths. New York has the largest death count in the nation. Florida has 101,303 cases and 3,238 deaths. 

While Colorado does not have as many cases as some of these other states we definitely do not have the smallest numbers in the United States. Montana has the lowest amount of cases in the United States. Montana has 766 cases and 21 deaths. Alaska has the lowest deaths in the United States, with only 12 deaths and 778 cases. Hawaii also has very few cases and deaths with  775 cases and 17 deaths.

Chaparral High School’s graduation ceremony

Chaparral High School is planning on having their graduation ceremony take place on Thursday the 25th, with some new rules and guidelines. 

Before and after each ceremony seats, podiums, handrails and other surfaces will be sanitized by a group of trained staff. Chaparral also advises anyone that isn’t feeling well or has a fever to stay home where they can watch the ceremony via livestream. Any graduate that isn’t feeling well and can’t come to the ceremony will still be honored. 

The ceremony will last about 90 minutes and only two family members are allowed to attend. Each family will be seated six feet apart from other families and every other row will be closed to maintain social distancing. 

When entering or exiting the ceremony members and guests must wear face masks. Guests and members are allowed to remove their masks once they are seated. 

Graduates will be seated six feet apart from one another on the football field and must maintain social distancing throughout the whole ceremony. Once the graduates name is called they will come up to the stage to be acknowledged in a no contact manner. 

After the ceremony is over everyone is asked to leave and not remain on the property.  

Amusement parks re-opening delays

While many businesses are re-opening this summer there are a few places that are experiencing delays in re-opening or aren’t planning on re-opening. 

Water world is one business that isn’t planning on opening for summer of 2020. With health guidelines a pool and amusement park of their size is not permitted to open for this summer. Water World also says that with the restrictions in place they wouldn’t be able to train and hire people in time to open. They plan to spend the summer updating the park and adding new rides for the 2021 season.  

Water World plans to extend any passes or tickets already purchased for this summer to next summer. As well as giving out $30 of Fun Bucks to spend in the park for anyone who has purchased the Splash Pass. 

Elitch Gardens is also experiencing issues trying to open for this summer. While they don’t plan to close for the summer of 2020 they are experiencing delays and doesn’t currently have a date that they will open, they are currently in the process of hiring and training employees. As well as planting flowers and testing the rides and water slides. 

Another amusement park that is experiencing delays is Lakeside Amusement Park. They don’t currently have a date that they plan to open. 

The University of Northern Colorado’s plan to return to campus

The University of Northern Colorado has made many decisions these last few weeks regarding Covid-19 and how the university plans to return to campus this fall. 

The University of Northern Colorado plans to return to in person classes on campus this fall. In a letter to students President Andy Feinstein lays out the plans to return to campus starting August 24th.  

UNC plans to have a hybrid style of teaching, with some classes being taught online while others will be taught in class. President Feinstein also says that appropriate social distancing guidelines will be followed. 

President Feinstein says that they are making plans for a possible second wave of Covid-19, an on campus case or additional stay-at-home orders. 

“I remain optimistic that we will offer in-person instruction for the entire academic year, but we must also prepare to adjust if required and maintain a level of flexibility should changes emerge after the fall semester begins,” said President Feinstein in his letter about students returning to campus. 

By June 30th information about hybrid classes, online classes and in-person classes will be shared with students and a new schedule will be finalized so students will be able to amend their schedules based on these changes. 

Classrooms have also been inspected to determine if changes to classroom spaces will need to be changed to meet health and safety guidelines. Logistics Task Force has been making adjustments to help control the foot traffic flow of buildings, floor decals for social distancing, installing plexiglass at service areas and working on classroom configurations. The UNC public  heath faculty experts also work to make sure housing, dining and recreation areas are following safety  guidelines. 

Students who plan to live on campus will be provided with room occupancy options by June 30th. 

In-person gatherings and meeting are also under advisement to protect students heath and safety  as well as keep the students college experience the same. President Feinstein is working on ways to modify organizations to use zoom and canvas as ways to conduct meeting and plan activities instead of in person meetings.

UNC Student Health Center is now providing Covid-19 tests and antibody test for the UNC community. 

President Feinstein has been attending virtual town hall meetings to help answers questions from students and their families. More details and information will be coming out in July about how students will register for new classes along with the dates and times of these new classes. 

Students can also visit The UNC Coronavirus website, the Weekly Operational Updates and UNC’s social media pages for more information.

UNC Board to Trustees also made the decision June 12th not to raise tuition this 2020-21 academic year because many UNC families have suffered financial loss due to Covid-19. The university has also set up a CARES Act fund for students during this difficult time. UNC distributed $3,825,107 into the CARES Act. Students will have to fill out a form to get funding as well as determine how much each students needs

Graduation ceremonies during Covid-19

Due to Covid-19 many high school and college graduation ceremonies were cancelled and now they ceremonies that will happen have a slightly different look to them. 

According to the Colorado Department of Education graduation ceremonies must follow certain  guidelines like, remaining six feet apart, no gatherings of ten or more, all participants must be screened for a fervor before the ceremony and the diplomas a cannot be be handed from person to person. As well as graduates having to wear face coverings and all ceremonies must be held outside. 

Douglas County schools are planning on taking these requirements into consideration and plan to have outdoor ceremonies the week of June 23rd, although that date my change. Douglas County says it will take at least a week for there plans to be denied or approved and will keep everyone up-to-date on graduation plans. 

Douglas County plans to hold smaller ceremonies with only ten seniors graduating at a time. Parents and family members will not be allowed to watch the ceremony in person. The ceremony will be live streamed from family members. Those who attend graduation will also have to wear face masks and remain six-feet-apart. 

“I’ve been so impressed with the positivity and maturity displayed by our seniors in spite of the many obstacles and challenges that have occurred due to this pandemic,” said the Superintendent in Douglas County’s latest update. 

Covid-19 guidelines in different Counties

Covid-19 has impacted everyone and while Governor Polis has made several announcements about how Colorado will open and what guidelines will be put in place, counties within Colorado have slightly different guidelines than those of the governor.

Douglas County follows the governors stay-at-home order, allowing business to re-open June 1s. The stay-at-home orders allow for business to re-open as long as they follow safety and social distancing guidelines.

The stay-at-home orders allowed for places of worship, gyms and the great outdoors to open. Camping and outdoor activities are allowed to resume as long as they are in groups of ten or less and practice social distancing. This goes for gyms and places of worship as well.

Business must control the amount of people within their business only allowing for half of their usual occupancy. Business must also have sanitizing stations at every entrance and have routine cleaning throughout the store. The orders also state that everyone is safer-at -home and in the great outdoors where greater social distancing practices are easier than indoor spaces.

The safer-at-home orders are classified as a level three. Level one being stay-at-home, only leaving for essential shopping like grocery shopping. Level two being safer-at-home, where everyone stays at home with a few essential stores open and non-critical stores operate with restrictions.

Douglas county has 764 confirmed cases and 47 deaths. 

Denver County has also decided to follow the governors stay-at-home orders and re-opened businesses as of June 6th. Denver County has made some of the stay-at-home orders mandatory instead of suggestions, like wearing a mask. Wearing masks are mandatory in Denver County when people are in line to enter any business or any facility offering government or health care services. They are also mandatory when waiting for or riding on public transpiration.

As of May 27th  Denver County allowed for restaurants to re-open as long as the follow state guidelines and wear masks at all times unless they are drinking or eating. Denver County urges people to stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave home.

Denver County has 6,176 confirmed cases and 349 deaths. 


The last week of April, Weld County rolled out a safer-at-work guidelines that follows the governors safer-at-home orders. Weld County says theses safer-at-work guidelines  help bridge the gap between the governors first announcement of safer-at-home orders and all the phases that followed.

Weld County’s safer-at-work guidelines say that business should limit the number of people within their store, maintain six feet apart at all times, encourage costumers to call ahead and make appointments, have six feet makers on the floor, install plexiglass coverings for cash registers and creating one way ales. As well as regularly sanitizing commonly touched areas and having hand sanitizer throughout the store. Weld county also says to put up posters encouraging hand hygiene and appropriate mask use.

Weld County current death toll is at 135  and the total amount of Covid-19 cases are at 2,604. 

Each county follows the governors stay-at-home orders but with slight variations in how strictly they are enforced, Denver County being the strictest and Weld County not strongly enforcing these orders.

Wearing a mask

As more businesses and restaurants re-open, many are requiring people to wear masks when shopping or eating at their place of business. Many stores like Costco won’t even let people in unless they are wearing a mask. To be most effective when wearing the mask the CDC has a few tips on what types of masks are best and how to wear them.

 The CDC has recommended people wear masks outside of their home, wearing a mask helps slow the spread. Coughing, sneezing and speaking can spread the virus even if you show no signs of the virus.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks not surgical masks or N-95 mask because those are needed for healthcare workers.

Your cloth mask should have several layers of cloth and should be able to be washed and dried. That will help keep your mask clean. You can make your mask out of household items such as bandanas or t-shirts.

Your mask should cover your entire nose and chin and have no gaps along the sides, but still allows for breathing without restrictions.  It should also be secured by ties or ear loops.

Remember not to touch your eyes nose or mouth when removing your mask and wash your hands after removing the mask.

Covid-19 guidelines on business

Stay-at-home orders expired April 26th changing to a safer-at-home order, this allowed for business that weren’t originally deemed essential to re-open. These new safer-at -home orders are similar to the stay-at-home orders except they are guidelines, not mandatory and they allow for people to reopen business.

This order allows for business to officially re-open May 1st. Stores that are now allowed open  include those that sell clothing, cellphones, appliances, vape and tobacco products, sporting equipment, crafts, fabrics and more.

Stores are now required to supply their employees with face covering and masks as well as having hand sanitizer and wipes at the entrances whenever possible. Stores as also limited to the amount of people that are allowed into their stores and are required to have makers in line that are six feet apart. Registers must have plastic protectors separating the employee’s and costumers. Many stores also advise their costumer to wear face coverings.

Other business that are allowed to open are dog grooming, body art, hair and nail salons, and massage therapists. With their own set of guidelines such as only allowing 10 or more people within the business or fifty percent occupancy for the location, whichever is less.

Many of these stores that have been allowed to open have been doing a good job following these new guidelines.

Covid-19 guidelines for restaurants

Beginning on May 27 restaurants were finally able to re-open for dine in services but many restaurants did not wait for the okay from Governor Polis. The weekend before May 27th many restaurants around Parker Colorado decided they were done waiting and opened for dine in, one such restaurant was Tailgates Tavern and Grill. They decided to re-opens their doors Saturday May 23rd announcing it on their facebook page.

 Tailgates was not the only restaurant that decided to open, Brick House Tavern and Tap, 20 Mile Tap House and several others also opened that weekend.

Douglas County guidelines for restaurants only allow for fifty percent of the restaurants occupancy or a maximum of 50 people within the restaurant. Tables must also be six feet apart from each other and all employees must wear face masks at all times. Deep cleaning of tables between seating, single use menus, make efforts to reduce congregating inside and outside the establishment, and many other guidelines have been put in place. That does not mean all these guidelines have been followed.

Many restaurants around Parker have not been following these guidelines. Hickory House allows regulars to sit at the bar disregarding the six feet apart rule. When driving past Tailgates you can see groups of 15 or more people drinking and hanging out in front of their doors. Many restaurants aren’t using single use menus. Many restaurants have been doing what they can to protect people while others don’t seem to be following the rules.

Update on Covid-19 in Colorado

During this Covid-19 pandemic many stores and businesses were shut down to help slow the spread of Covid-19. Now after about three months of quarantine many businesses and restaurants have the okay to open. There are many guidelines that businesses will have to follow to open, which I will go into depth in a latter blog. In this blog I will talk about what business are still  getting hit with new Covid-19 outbreaks and Governor Jared Polis’ update on June 2nd about Colorado’s Covid-19 situation.

The total amount of Covid-19 cases in Colorado is 26,783 and the total number of deaths is 14,073. Governor Polis stated that colorado is currently on a downward trend of Covid-19 outbreaks and has not seen an  increased or decreased of cases. Our healthcare systems has also seen a downward trend of cases within the last 12-14 days. Polis tells Colorado that we are to keep up with wearing masks when leaving home and to continue to social distance.

“We are in this for the long haul.” Said Governor Polis during his speak on the Tuesday.


During Governor Polis’ most recent address to Colorado about the protesting, riots, and Covid-19 in colorado, he talks about how many people are gathering together to protest against George Floyd’s death and his fear is that large groups protesting will spread Covid-19.

 Polis tells Coloradans that this could result in 100s more cases and deaths but that information can’t be known until the following weeks when results come in. Polis urges demonstrators to wear masks and keep six feet apart to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Polis also strongly encourages those who were at the protesting demonstrations to get tested for Coid-19. He says that if you do not feel any symptoms within seven days of the protesting then go get tested at the Pepsi center, which is free to do. Polis says this is the best way to prevent the spread and protect other people.

As Colorado starts to re-open the state many businesses continue to have new outbreaks of  Covid-19. Prisons, nursing homes and meat packing plants are some of the most dangerous places during this crisis.

As of Wednesday June 3rd Sterling Correctional Facility has 99 new cases, bring their total number to 539 inmates and 22 workers that have contracted the Covid-19 virus.

 JBS meat packing  plant in Greeley Colorado has 99 new cases totaling out to 273 cases.

Grocery stores have also seen an increase in Covid-19 cases with 129 cases within 12 stores and 5 deaths. There have been two deaths of employees in the Capitol Hill King Soopers as well as two deaths at the Walmart in Aurora.

 Nursing homes continue to have the highest number of deaths and cases of Covid-19, throughout the state as many as 800 people have died in nursing homes and healthcare facilities. The rise in Covid-19 cases in healthcare facilities account for 14% of confirmed statewide cases and 43% of statewide deaths. There has been a rise of 40 deaths in the last week of cases in healthcare facilities

Governor Polis also wanted the people of Colorado to really think about the amount of risks they want to take during this global pandemic. The lowest risk of contracting the virus is to simply to stay at home.  The moderate risk is going outside to parks or hiking trails but not anywhere that has large groups of people. The more crowded outside places are the higher the risk. The highest risk level is large indoor gatherings. He also wanted to let people know that gatherings of ten or more people is allowed but not advised and that sports leagues of 25 is allowed but is at a high risk of contracting  Covid-19.

Introduction to my blog

The purpose of this blog is to get practice at blogging. Many of the jobs I am looking to work for ask for blogging experience, this class allows me to learn how to blog. This blog will also allowed me to get more experience at journalistic writing before I graduate. 

The beat I will be covering is the Covid-19 pandemic in Colorado. I will write about how Governor Polis has been handling this pandemic and how he plans to re-open stores and restaurants. I plan to post three times a week. I will follow the news and the governors announcements, as well as his twitter, to get the most updated information about this pandemic. 

I have been taking journalism classes for the last three years. I have taken a both print news and video production classes during my time at UNC. I worked for Bear News at UNC this last year. Bear News is a student run news station that reports about UNC. In Bear News we produce weekly news shows. I have also worked for UNC’s newspaper,The Mirror. 

In this blog I will cover a verity of different topics involving Covid-19. One of the topics I will cover is how the governor has handled this situation, what guidelines the stores and restaurants will have to follow once they open and how this is affecting every day life. 

I choose this topic because it’s something that interests me and is discussed everywhere. Every media platform I go on, every time I switch on the TV, I see and hear about Coivd-19. So I figured this would be a great topic to dive into. I hope to learn how our government is handling this situation and what the peoples response is. I also want to learn how we might prevent or handle this situation in the future. 

I do have some experience covering this beat. In Bear News we covered Covid-19 and when the university switched to online I continued to cover Covid-19. 

One strength I have when it comes to journalism is my ability to produce, write and edit videos. A weakness I have is my ability to write. My writing skills have come a long way from my first day taking journalism classes but they aren’t as strong as my video skills. 

I have no blogging experience but I look forward to learning how to write a proper blog. I am excited to be able to blog like a professional especially sense many journalism jobs ask for blogging experience. I am a little nervous about sharing my work with the world. I don’t usually share my written work and I do worry about what comments I might get. I am confident that my work will be factual and interesting to read.