Colorado sets timeline for return to normalcy

Colorado officials are starting to offer a picture of what life looks like when the pandemic eases its grip.

Driving the news: More school districts are returning to in-person learning before the end of the school year and the state is considering relaxing its rules for event venues, the Denver Post reports.

• Jefferson County schools, the state's second largest district, announced plans Friday to resume in-person learning for middle and high school students starting March 15, joining four other local districts that moved in that direction.
• Denver Public Schools officials said Friday they are starting to discuss how to bring more students back.

At the same time, a number of popular Denver event venues are announcing plans to welcome back fans:

• The Colorado Rockies will allow 12,500 fans into Coors Field for opening day April 1, or 25% capacity, after the state public health department granted permission.
• Red Rocks is seeking approval to allow 2,500 people when the concert season begins in late April. The venue — which holds 9,500 — hopes to reach 75-80% of full capacity by July.

Not so fast: Federal public health officials warned states not to relax restrictions after the latest data showed that infection, hospitalization and death rates may no longer be declining. In Colorado, the infection rate is greater than a week ago.

The big picture: Colorado's reopening depends on an increasing federal supply of vaccines to states.

• The general public can now expect to get vaccines starting in late April or early May, Gov. Jared Polis said on Friday. Earlier estimates put the target date later in summer.

This story first appeared in the Axios Denver newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

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