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5 things you need to know for Friday, December 11

KOAA Covering Colorado
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Good morning southern Colorado and here's what you need to know on your

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Latest First Alert 5 Weather forecast

The forecast is going to stay active today and that includes the morning commute. We had light snow overnight through Friday morning, and while some of that light snow melted on the pavement, there are still icy spots and a few snow-covered areas drivers will need to watch out for, mainly in the mountains and on the north side of Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

We'll see mostly dry skies for the first half of today other than spotty and stray flurries, most of which will be in and around our southern mountains. At the end of the day there could be more snow showers and flurries into the early evening, but not with much more accumulation expected for the majority of our viewing area.

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Colorado expected to receive the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine between Dec. 13-16

Colorado is getting closer to receiving its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines.

During Wednesday's press conference, Incident Commander with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Scott Bookman said Colorado is expecting the first shipment of 46,800 doses of Pfizer vaccines between Dec. 13-16. The state anticipates 95,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine the following week.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both involve two doses. The Pfizer vaccine’s second dose will be delivered 21 days after the first, and the Moderna vaccine’s second dose comes 28 days after the first.

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What to expect for vaccine distribution

Based on the Colorado plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, we can expect high-risk health care workers and long-term care facility staff and residents to get the vaccine first, followed by moderate-risk health care workers and first responders.

Then in phase 2, which is expected to happen in the springs, the vaccine will be given to higher-risk individuals and essential workers. Finally, the general public is expected to get the vaccine this summer.

“We know that early doses are going to be very limited,” Incident Commander with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Bookman said. “Over time, they’ll expand. All will be free. Every county will have access to the vaccine.”

Gov. Polis said people who are incarcerated will receive the vaccine on the same timeline as everyone else depending on where they fall in the phase process after several weeks of scrutiny of whether or not they would receive the vaccine as part of the first group or along with the same timeline as the rest of the population. Colorado jails and prisons have, along with long-term care facilities, seen among the largest outbreaks of COVID-19.

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Group of downtown restaurants, bars close temporarily because of COVID concerns

In order to ensure they rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants have changed the entire way they do business to meet the current Level Red restrictions in El Paso County. But one local group of restaurants and bars decided to close temporarily, around a week before the restrictions were announced.

The owner of The Rabbit Hole is Joseph Campana, who also owns Stir Coffee, Supernova, Bonny and Read, Shame & Regret, and Cork & Cask. Campana decided to close all of them, rather than risk his employee's health. "How do you weigh economy over lives? How do you do that?" asked Campana.

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FBI warns public about multiple holiday shopping scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning holiday shoppers to be aware of increasingly aggressive and unorthodox scams designed to steal money and personal information. These include online shopping scams, payment red flags, and charity scams

If a deal looks too good to be true, officials say it probably is. FBI Pittsburgh said Monday that consumers should steer clear of unfamiliar websites that offer unrealistic discounts on brand name merchandise. Scammers frequently prey on holiday bargain hunters by advertising “one-day only” promotions from recognized brands.
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