State eyes decrees
Hospitalization rates worry officials, who are considering some mandates / AFP
The state health department wants businesses and restaurants to implement mask or vaccine mandates to stem the spread of the coronavirus, but is preparing for the possibility that statewide action will be needed as Colorado’s hospitals continue to fill with COVID-19 patients, Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer for the agency, said Monday.
Coronavirus hospitalizations are at their highest point since Christmas and officials with the state Department of Public Health and Environment believe Colorado could hit capacity by the end of November.
Hospitals are already diverting — or turning away — ambulances as their emergency rooms fill, France said.
“Ultimately, we are trying to protect our hospital beds,” he said, adding, “Maybe we have to really work harder to have businesses require masks or ask restaurant owners to ask for proof of vaccination.”
When asked whether the health department is considering taking action itself, France said “possibly.” He said the agency also hopes local officials will take steps to curb the spread of the virus.
“We’re preparing for that possibility,” he said. “We’ll track hospitalizations over the next week or two.”
Larimer and Boulder counties have already reinstated indoor mask mandates.
A handful of Denver businesses have required proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars and concert halls, but such mandates are not widespread. A majority of the vaccine mandates — including the one by the city of Denver — in Colorado have so far focused on government, school and health care employees.
There were 1,170 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Another 72 patients had potential infections, according to the latest data from the state health department. The last time more patients were receiving hospital care for COVID-19 was Christmas Eve.
At the worst point, on Dec. 2, 1,995 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
As of Monday, 120 intensive-care beds were available and 88% of the state’s acutecare beds were filled, according to the data.
“We’re certainly worried about hospital capacity for medical and surgical beds and that we might be at capacity by the end of November,” France said.
So far, there’s no sign the worst is over. The state health department reported 15,260 cases in the week ending Sunday — a quick rebound after a one-week drop. The percentage of tests coming back positive was at its highest level since Dec. 16, suggesting even that could be an undercount.
In September, hospitals were admitting about 100 COVID-19 patients each day, but that’s risen to an average of 140, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health. While fewer COVID-19 patients are hospitalized than at the worst point last year, hospitals are dealing with the surge on top of the normal mix of people needing care, she said.
“It’s already pretty bad,” she said. “I think it could get worse.”
Nationwide, new cases and hospitalizations have dropped significantly, but Colorado has moved in the opposite direction, Carlton said. As of Monday, the state had the 11th-highest rate of new cases compared to population and the 14th-highest hospitalization rate, according to The New York Times.
It’s not entirely clear why that’s happening, but several neighboring states in the northern mountains and plains are experiencing surges at the same time, Carlton said. Cooling weather could be a factor, or it might be that a surge in one place will spread to other undervaccinated communities and spill over to people whose immunity might be waning, she said.
Hospitals began diverting ambulances 10 days ago, a move that is reminiscent of the scenes that took place during last year’s deadly third-wave.
Public health officials are especially concerned that a normal flu season could further overwhelm hospitals.
Public health orders issued last year to address transmission of the coronavirus suppressed the spread of influenza. But since they were lifted and people began gathering more often, doctors have reported more cases of typical illnesses, such as the common cold and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
It’s not unusual for a few thousand people to be hospitalized over the entire flu season, so that might lead to about 300 or so people needing beds for influenza in a matter of months, France said.
By Judith Kohler
Black Friday is so 2019, back before COVID-19 restrictions shut down stores and manufacturing plants and the pandemic triggered supply-chain problems that continue to boomerang around the globe.
This year, economists say the earlier people start holiday shopping the better. People appear to be getting the message.
A new survey by Deloitte found that 43% of the respondents in Denver are concerned they won’t find the items they want because of snarls in the supply chains that move goods from factories to shelves in stores. The survey shows that 75% of Denver shoppers plan to start their holiday buying before Thanksgiving, which means before Black Friday, the traditional day-afterThanksgiving shopping kickoff.
The start of the shopping season has been a moving target for several years, particularly with the rise in e-commerce. This year, shoppers and businesses
By Andrew Selsky and Manuel Valdes
THE DALLES, Ore. — Conflicts over water are as old as history itself, but the massive Google data centers on the edge of this Oregon town on the Columbia River represent an emerging 21st century concern.
Now a critical part of modern computing, data centers help people stream movies on Netflix, conduct transactions on Paypal, post updates on Facebook, store trillions of photos and more. But a single facility can also churn through millions of gallons of water per day to keep hot-running equipment cool.
Google wants to build at least two more data centers in The Dalles, worrying some residents who fear there eventually won’t be enough water for everyone — including for area farms and fruit orchards, which are by far the biggest users.
Across the United States, there has been some mild pushback as tech companies build and expand data centers — conflicts likely to grow as water becomes a more precious resource amid the threat of climate change and as the demand alike are preparing even earlier to make sure they’re not left empty handed.
“It is driving the speed, the cadence at which people are going out and doing their shopping,” Jay Behringer, managing director of Deloitte Services LP in Denver, said of worries about the availability of products. “The locals in Denver say the No. 1 reason they want to go shopping earlier is to ensure ontime delivery of their orders.”
Behringer said 54% of those surveyed are concerned about the delivery date, while 43% want to avoid problems with products being out of stock. Denver shoppers are especially concerned about being able to find electronics and accessories and toys.
National retail executives contacted by Deloitte are also anxious about the impact of ongoing supplychain disruptions. Behringer said 43% of the approximately 30 executives surveyed expect delays in orders and 64% are worried about receiving goods on time.
President Joe Biden announced that the Port of Los Angeles would operate 24/7 to try to break the logjam of shipping containers waiting to be unloaded. Shortages of containers for
for cloud computing grows. Some tech giants have been using cutting-edge research and development to find less impactful cooling methods, but there are those who say the companies can still do more to be environmentally sustainable.
The concerns are understandable in The Dalles, the seat of Wasco County, which is suffering extreme and exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The region last summer endured its hottest days on record, reaching 118 degrees Fahrenheit in The Dalles. goods waiting to be shipped and of truck drivers to move items piled up in ports and rail yards are worsening the situation.
Ed O’brien, the founder of Denver-based B4adventure, which sells outdoor recreation products for families, told KMGH-TV that he has lost about $1 million because of a huge spike in shipping container costs, delays and lost sales.
The National Retail Federation also expects uncertainty about inventories to motivate shoppers to hit the stores or the keyboards earlier than usual. New projections by the business organization and Prosper Insights & Analytics said 49% of shoppers are expected to start buying before November, up from 42% in 2020 and the highest percentage in the survey’s history.
“The retail industry is working diligently with ports, labor, shippers and transportation providers as well as government officials to overcome supply chain challenges and make sure consumers have access to the gifts they want to give and, just as important, receive,” Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the retail federation, said in a statement.
Uncertainty aside, people seem ready to dig a little deeper in their wallets
Data centers help people stream movies on Netflix, post updates on Facebook, store trillions of photos using Google services and more. But a single facility can also churn through millions of gallons of water per day.
The Dalles is adjacent to the mighty Columbia River, but the new data centers wouldn’t be able to use that water and instead would have to take water from rivers and groundwater that has gone through the city’s water treatment plant.
However, the snowpack in the nearby Cascade Range that feeds the aquifers varies wildly year-toyear and glaciers are melting. Most aquifers in northcentral Oregon are declining, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Resources Program.
Adding this year for holiday gifts, according to the Deloitte and National Retail Federation surveys.
In its first-ever breakout of Denver data, Deloitte said local shoppers are expected to spend an average of $1,705 each, 17% more than the national average of $1,463.
The annual National Retail Federation survey said consumers plan to spend $997.73 this holiday season, on par with 2020 and slightly below $1047.83 in 2019.
Despite a decline of anxiety about the coronavirus, 51% a year ago to 41%, Deloitte said Denver respondents anticipate doing 62% of their shopping online. About a third expect to shop in stores.
And Behringer said Denverites plan to spend 38% more on experiences than the national average. “That’s either entertaining at home or socializing away from home,” he said.
This Deloitte survey was conducted online in September and polled a national sample of 4,315 people and 413 in Denver. The margin of error for the local sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The National Retail Federation survey polled 7,921 people in early October and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.
The 15,000 town residents don’t know how much water the proposed data centers will use, because Google calls it a trade secret. Even the town councilors, who are scheduled to vote on the proposal on Nov. 8, had to wait until this week to find out.
Dave Anderson, public works director for The Dalles, said Google obtained the rights to 3.9 million gallons of water per day when it purchased land formerly home to an aluminum smelter. Google is requesting less water for the new data centers than that amount and would transfer those rights to the city, Anderson said.
“The city comes ahead,” he said.
For its part, Google said it’s “committed to the longterm health of the county’s economy and natural resources.”
“We’re excited that we’re continuing conversations with local officials on an agreement that allows us to keep growing while also supporting the community,” Google said, adding that the expansion proposal includes a potential aquifer program to store water and increase supply during drier periods. out