Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday December 14th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we’re discussing how state officials are looking to extend leases for alternate care sites. While at the same time, Hospitals are activating “surge plans” to increase their capacity.

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to December 14th, 1948 when Commissioners from both Colorado and Kansas signed the Arkansas River Compact. Prior, the line between Colorado and Kansas had inspired generations of tension and court battles. 

And now, our feature story. 

Colorado’s three remaining hospital overflow sites were originally set to close in January. But now, state officials are working to extend leases and line up staff. They’re still worried about the worst-case scenario they planned for nine months ago.

Two of the original five alternate care sites were dismantled back in October. And in the remaining three - the Colorado Convention Center and two other sites - The hospital beds have been empty for months. 

Still, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management is working on a contract extension. It’s a sign that even as the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are on their way to Colorado, public health officials remain concerned that the crisis could get worse through the holiday season and the rest of winter.

Colorado Sun reporter Jennifer Brown is joining us today to talk more about the situation.

Jennifer, can you start by giving us some more background on these overflow hospitals? When were they built?

So, now that those two sites have closed can you talk more about the plans for the remaining three? And how much is this costing the state?

Thanks, Jennifer. 

The state’s unified command center now gets hospital capacity reports daily — sometimes more — so officials can make a fast decision if they need to launch operations at one of these alternate care sites. It would take about 14 days to get one ready to accept patients.

And across the state have been closer to reaching capacity. Closer in the last few weeks than any time so far in the pandemic. 

A few reached near 90% of capacity in late November and early December. One — Park View Medical Center in Pueblo — was so full that it reached out for help. The distress call resulted in 20 patients leaving Park View for other hospitals with vacant beds. 

A hospital collaborative was also activated last month. This allows hospitals to transfer patients to medical centers not only within the same hospital system but to other systems, too. This network is part of the state’s effort to avoid opening the alternate care sites.

And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

This was an extra bad week for Coloradans who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic. We just ended week 39 — the maximum number of weeks one is eligible for unemployment pay currently. 

The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, doses could arrive in Colorado in days.

The Legislative Audit Committee, which is led by Republicans, will hold a hearing Tuesday to investigate alleged election discrepancies in Colorado. There’s no proof there were any.

Colorado’s review of the Catholic Church sex abuse named priests, but not those who covered up their crimes. Victims say the whole story hasn’t been told.For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Monday December 14th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we&rsquo;re discussing how state officials are looking to extend leases for alternate care sites. While at the same time, Hospitals are activating &ldquo;surge plans&rdquo; to increase their capacity.
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to December 14th, 1948 when Commissioners from both Colorado and Kansas signed the Arkansas River Compact. Prior, the line between Colorado and Kansas had inspired generations of tension and court battles.&nbsp;
And now, our feature story.&nbsp;
Colorado&rsquo;s three remaining hospital overflow sites were originally set to close in January. But now, state officials are working to extend leases and line up staff. They&rsquo;re still worried about the worst-case scenario they planned for nine months ago.
Two of the original five alternate care sites were dismantled back in October. And in the remaining three - the Colorado Convention Center and two other sites - The hospital beds have been empty for months.&nbsp;
Still, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management is working on a contract extension. It&rsquo;s a sign that even as the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are on their way to Colorado, public health officials remain concerned that the crisis could get worse through the holiday season and the rest of winter.
Colorado Sun reporter Jennifer Brown is joining us today to talk more about the situation.
Jennifer, can you start by giving us some more background on these overflow hospitals? When were they built?
So, now that those two sites have closed can you talk more about the plans for the remaining three? And how much is this costing the state?
Thanks, Jennifer.&nbsp;
The state&rsquo;s unified command center now gets hospital capacity reports daily &mdash; sometimes more &mdash; so officials can make a fast decision if they need to launch operations at one of these alternate care sites. It would take about 14 days to get one ready to accept patients.
And across the state have been closer to reaching capacity. Closer in the last few weeks than any time so far in the pandemic.&nbsp;
A few reached near 90% of capacity in late November and early December. One &mdash; Park View Medical Center in Pueblo &mdash; was so full that it reached out for help. The distress call resulted in 20 patients leaving Park View for other hospitals with vacant beds.&nbsp;
A hospital collaborative was also activated last month. This allows hospitals to transfer patients to medical centers not only within the same hospital system but to other systems, too. This network is part of the state&rsquo;s effort to avoid opening the alternate care sites.
And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
This was an extra bad week for Coloradans who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic. We just ended week 39 &mdash; the maximum number of weeks one is eligible for unemployment pay currently.&nbsp;
The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation&rsquo;s first COVID-19 vaccine, doses could arrive in Colorado in days.
The Legislative Audit Committee, which is led by Republicans, will hold a hearing Tuesday to investigate alleged election discrepancies in Colorado. There&rsquo;s no proof there were any.
Colorado&rsquo;s review of the Catholic Church sex abuse named priests, but not those who covered up their crimes. Victims say the whole story hasn&rsquo;t been told.For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

The Daily Sun-Up

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;