Motel rooms for infected people, fewer Denver inmates, and other things we learned from an internal email about coronavirus

The city government has spent $6.5 million on supplies, equipment and facilities.

A Denver Health nurse distributes addiction medication to an inmate at the Denver County Jail, Jan. 9, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

David Sachs

Apr. 01, 2020, 5:59 p.m.

Here are a few nuggets about the city’s COVID-19 response that were laid out by Evan Dreyer, deputy chief of staff to Mayor Michael Hancock, in an email to city staffers Wednesday.

According to the email obtained by Denverite:

Twelve people experiencing homelessness with symptoms are isolated in a facility separate from Denver’s typical shelters, while 74 people are in “respite” motel rooms awaiting COVID-19 test results.

The city’s jail system is housing a “historic low” number of inmates: 1,245 as of Wednesday morning. Reported crime in Denver is down because of COVID-19 while police are handling more low-level crimes over the phone.

City enforcement teams have given out more than 600 warnings to people not complying with the stay-home order. The government has ordered five “non-critical” businesses to close.

The city government has spent about $6.5 million on supplies, equipment and facilities related to coronavirus response. That’s in addition to the $13.5 million in emergency money approved by the Denver City Council on Tuesday.

Candidates answer yes/no questions during Denverite's People's Forum mayoral debate at the Carla Madison Rec Center. March 7, 2023.

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The skeleton of a fin whale hangs in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science's main hall. March 1, 2023.

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A sidewalk ends on Josephine Street by East High School. Aug. 24, 2021.

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A security guard watches over a parking lot at East High School after a shooting there on March 22, 2023.

East High School shooter’s interest in ghost guns derailed a once-promising academic outlook

The 17-year-old student was bright with an interest in engineering, but his attitude toward guns led to repeated tense encounters with law enforcement and school officials.

Denver Public Schools teachers, faculty and students march into the Colorado State Capitol as they protest gun violence and push for new laws to address the problem. March 24, 2023.

Thousands rallied for gun legislation for the third time this month

DPS is supporting five bills this session to address the issue.

Sangre de Mexico performs during the Festival del Mole and Frida Kahlo celebration on Morrison Road. July 9, 2022.

Pozole Fest returns to Westwood this weekend

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Police officers stand between a soup drive and "anti-fascist" protest and a "patriot" rally in support of police on October 10, 2020 at Civic Center Park.

Pinkerton, the security firm involved in the 2020 killing of a protester, can resume operating in Denver

The city recently renewed the firm's license, after a judge overturned Denver’s decision to revoke it over the killing of a right-wing protestor in October 2020.

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Enchiladas Doradas, part of Tamayo's Viva Abejas menu. March 14, 2023.

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Two East High School administrators were injured in a shooting reported at the school Wednesday morning. Police Chief Ron Thomas the the suspected shooter, a student, was being searched as part of a school safety plan. The student fled and is not in custody.

After East High shooting, armed police are temporarily headed back to DPS high schools. The debate to keep them there is underway

DPS board approved the return of officers until the end of the school year a day after a shooting at East High school.

Denver Public Schools students speak with Rep. Ken DeGraaf as they protest gun violence at the Colorado State Capitol, one day after a shooting at East High School. March 23, 2023.

East High students march on State Capitol and call for gun control a day after school shooting

Students from various Denver high schools walked out of class and marched to the Capitol earlier this month after 16-year-old Luis Garcia died from a gunshot-related injury sustained outside East High.

Cleo Parker Robinson, right, poses with Bruce Springsteen, second from right, and members of The International Association of Blacks in Dance. They all were honored with a National Medal of the Arts this week at The White House. (Courtesy The White House)

Cleo Parker Robinson among those honored at White House with National Medal of the Arts

Her group The International Association of Blacks in Dance shared the honor with Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and others.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas speaks with parents, some visibly angry, after a shooting at East High School. March 22, 2023.

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The iconic “E” outside Denver East High School on Wednesday evening, March 22, 2023, with flowers and a “#11” painted on the surface in commemoration of Luis Garcia, who was shot outside the school in late February. Two school staffers were injured in a shooting reported at the school Wednesday morning.

“We just buried Luis”: East High parents, students fume after another shooting and call for stricter security

On their way to school today, students walked past a memorial to Luis Garcia, who was shot outside East earlier this year.

Police tape surrounds East High School following reports of a shooting that left two people injured on March 22, 2023.

East High shooting: Police say they’ve found a body near the suspected shooter’s car in Park County. One victim remains in the hospital.

The Park County coroner identified the body as the 17-year-old suspect Thursday morning.

Maria Islas Lopez (left), manager of History Colorado's Museum of Memory project, sorts through Jesse Garcia's photos of Sun Valley. Feb. 25, 2023.

Sun Valley is rapidly changing, but a History Colorado project wants to keep the neighborhood’s memory alive

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Anthony Maes stands in PlatteForum's Five Points space as he prepares for the "Generations" show that features work by him and a crew of interns he's been training over the last few weeks. March 15, 2023.

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