Denver mayor Michael Hancock issued a stay-at-home order for the city and county of Denver today in order to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus. The order will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, Fox News Denver reports. Grocery stores, obtaining medication, exercise with social distancing, and now liquor stores and dispensaries are among the exclusions in the order.
At first, liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries were ordered to close in Denver under the stay-at-home order. But then people starting flocking to stock up on goods so the city had to amend the order, saying that liquor stores and dispensaries could be exempt as long as they practice ‘extreme social distancing,’ 9 News said. According to the order, restaurant delivery and takeout services will remain available but liquor stores cannot deliver.
The Order has been updated with the following changes::
ยท Liquor stores with extreme physical distancing in place will be exempt.
ยท All marijuana stores with extreme physical distancing in place will be exempt.
ยท All construction operations and projects will be exempt.
— City and County of Denver (@CityofDenver) March 23, 2020
However, some are raising concerns about the mayor’s order to leave Denver’s liquor stores and dispensaries open, claiming that these businesses will become major transmission sites for the virus. It’s hard to say if this is a good or bad decision yet as this situation is unfolding by the day. Only time will tell.
DENVER: If you are headed to or waiting at a liquor store or dispensary – considering holding off – no need to be around crowds – there's an update coming from the city to ease the rush. #9NEWS #covid19colorado
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) March 23, 2020
