Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Wednesday January 27th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. 

Today - New modeling projections show that as long as Colorado maintains current levels of social distancing, the risk of overrunning hospitals has passed.

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to January 27th, 1808 when Anthony Bettay told President Thomas Jefferson about lucrative silver deposits in the central Rocky Mountains, the heart of modern Colorado. 

As vaccinations pick up across the state, giving protection to the most at-risk, the chance of hospitals being overwhelmed shrinks according to a new modeling report released on Tuesday. If Coloradans continue to maintain the current levels of social distancing and mask-wearing, then the peaks of the pandemic are behind us.

But public health leaders are still cautious -- the coronavirus has pulled tricks before and a lot depends on whether Coloradans do their part. But the leaders are also increasingly optimistic.

Colorado Sun reporter John Ingold is here with some more information on the report. 

As long as Colorado reaches the vaccination target and maintains at least 60% transmission control, the state will not breach its hospital intensive-care capacity, according to the modeling projections. Gov. Jared Polis has said repeatedly that the state is on-track to reach the vaccination goal. 

Meanwhile, 60% is the lowest level of transmission control the state has seen since the pandemic began -- it is akin to where Colorado was in the fall right before the state experienced its largest surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. During a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist, stressed the importance of continuing social distancing.

The researchers creating these projections have a similar message. Elizabeth Carlton, a professor at the Colorado School of Public Health who is one of the researchers working to create modeling projections for the course of the pandemic in the state - said that hospital capacity is not the only measurement of success. The modeling report also forecasts much sorrow in the months to come.

In the best-case scenario, at least 500 more Coloradans with COVID-19 will die by June. 

So, yes, this is likely the final stretch. But it doesn’t mean the race is over.

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

Data delayed from the 2020 Census are threatening to upend Colorado’s redistricting process. Two new state commissions have September deadlines to produce results, but 2020 census numbers aren’t expected until well after the usual March 31 delivery date.

Colorado’s newest U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper has been chosen to help President Joe Biden draft a national coronavirus relief bill. As part of the so-called “sweet 16” bipartisan group, Hickenlooper said he’s prioritizing state and local aid, small business assistance and reopening schools.

Rural broadband provider Jade Communications is gaining traction with their services and has branched out to make a parental-control app. The system manages internet use at the router level, helping parents in the San Luis Valley keep their kids on task while they do school from home during coronavirus

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 Wednesday January 27th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you.&nbsp;
Today - New modeling projections show that as long as Colorado maintains current levels of social distancing, the risk of overrunning hospitals has passed.
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to January 27th, 1808 when Anthony Bettay told President Thomas Jefferson about lucrative silver deposits in the central Rocky Mountains, the heart of modern Colorado.&nbsp;
As vaccinations pick up across the state, giving protection to the most at-risk, the chance of hospitals being overwhelmed shrinks according to a new modeling report released on Tuesday. If Coloradans continue to maintain the current levels of social distancing and mask-wearing, then the peaks of the pandemic are behind us.
But public health leaders are still cautious -- the coronavirus has pulled tricks before and a lot depends on whether Coloradans do their part. But the leaders are also increasingly optimistic.
Colorado Sun reporter John Ingold is here with some more information on the report.&nbsp;
As long as Colorado reaches the vaccination target and maintains at least 60% transmission control, the state will not breach its hospital intensive-care capacity, according to the modeling projections. Gov. Jared Polis has said repeatedly that the state is on-track to reach the vaccination goal.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, 60% is the lowest level of transmission control the state has seen since the pandemic began -- it is akin to where Colorado was in the fall right before the state experienced its largest surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. During a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist, stressed the importance of continuing social distancing.
The researchers creating these projections have a similar message. Elizabeth Carlton, a professor at the Colorado School of Public Health who is one of the researchers working to create modeling projections for the course of the pandemic in the state - said that hospital capacity is not the only measurement of success. The modeling report also forecasts <a href="https://coloradosun.com/colorado-coronavirus-live-updates-january-2021/#colorado-deaths-increasing">much sorrow in the months to come</a>.
In the best-case scenario, at least 500 more Coloradans with COVID-19 will die by June.&nbsp;
So, yes, this is likely the final stretch. But it doesn&rsquo;t mean the race is over.
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
Data delayed from the 2020 Census are threatening to upend Colorado&rsquo;s redistricting process. Two new state commissions have September deadlines to produce results, but 2020 census numbers aren&rsquo;t expected until well after the usual March 31 delivery date.
Colorado&rsquo;s newest U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper has been chosen to help President Joe Biden draft a national coronavirus relief bill. As part of the so-called &ldquo;sweet 16&rdquo; bipartisan group, Hickenlooper said he&rsquo;s prioritizing state and local aid, small business assistance and reopening schools.
Rural broadband provider Jade Communications is gaining traction with their services and has branched out to make a parental-control app. The system manages internet use at the router level, helping parents in the San Luis Valley keep their kids on task while they do school from home during coronavirus
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/.

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