Coronavirus in Colorado: COVID-19 updates for April 18-24, 2022

More than 1,365,200 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 61,700 have been hospitalized as of Sunday, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Click here for the latest update on the number of cases, the age, gender and location of presumptive positive, indeterminate and confirmed cases from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Below, we're updating this blog with the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Colorado.

Latest updates:

Friday, April 22

4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data

Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

1,375,540 cases (+1,995)
61,862 hospitalized (+17)
64 counties (+0)
4,849,858 people tested (+1,919)
17,307,956 test encounters (+15,646)
12,100 deaths among cases (+39)
13,169 deaths due to COVID-19 (+8)
8,586 outbreaks (+0)

The latest hospital data, which the state is now updating only on Wednesdays, shows 88 beds in use by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, 11 more than a week ago. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 5.08%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.

As of Friday, 4,460,833 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 4,026,840 have been fully vaccinated.

3:54 p.m. | Colorado can expect a small COVID wave from new variants, state health officials say

Colorado can expect a relatively small COVID-19 wave in the coming months as new variants take over, assuming the latest version of the virus isn’t significantly better at getting around the immune system.

The latest report from the state’s modeling team showed hospitalizations could peak between 550 and 650 by early summer, if the ascendant BA.2.12.1 variant is no more severe than omicron and no better at evading the immune system. That would be comparable to the peak of the spring 2021 wave, which was the second-smallest the state seen so far.

Much remains unknown about the new variant, however, and people’s decisions to use or forego precautions will influence how far the virus may spread.

The new modeling report estimated about one in every 375 residents is currently contagious, but that at least 80% of Coloradans have some immunity to current variants of the virus.

Read the full story here.

Thursday, April 21

4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data

Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

1,373,545 cases (+2,024)
61,845 hospitalized (+31)
64 counties (+0)
4,847,939 people tested (+1,943)
17,292,310 test encounters (+14,887)
12,061 deaths among cases (+31)
13,161 deaths due to COVID-19 (+6)
8,586 outbreaks (+1)

The latest hospital data, which the state is now updating only on Wednesdays, shows 88 beds in use by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, 11 more than a week ago. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 5.15%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.

AsAs of Friday4,460,144 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 4,000,369 have been fully vaccinated.

12:15 p.m. | Gov. Polis, state lawmakers lay out COVID-19 readiness legislation

Gov. Jared Polis and state lawmakers, along with state health officials on Thursday announced legislation to implement readiness for COVID-19 or other health emergency in Colorado should it become necessary in the near future.

The legislation - some at the state level and other at the federal level - is part of the Polis administration's "Roadmap to Moving Forward," which he unveiled in late February.

Among the topics in the legislation he discussed were

• Ensuring health care workers have critical supply of the critical supply (PPE).
• Hospital readiness. 
• Major investment in health care workforce. 

"This legislation means Coloradans means residents will not be taken by surprise again," Polis said during opening remarks. "We will be ready to respond, to avoid overcrowding our hospitals. These efforts will once again show that Colorado is leading the way in pandemic preparedness."

Among the speakers present Thursday were Rep. Kyle Mullica, Sen. Sonya Jacquez Lewis, Rep. Julie McCluskie, a doctor and an ICU nurse, who shared personal stories of the early days of the pandemic and why this legislation was important for Coloradans.

You can watch the full news conference in the video below.

Wednesday, April 20

4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data

Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

1,371,521 cases (+1,907)
61,814 hospitalized (+39)
64 counties (+0)
4,845,996 people tested (+1,790)
17,277,423 test encounters (+15,106)
12,030 deaths among cases (-6)
13,155 deaths due to COVID-19 (+14)
8,585 outbreaks (+13)

The latest hospital data, which the state is now updating only on Wednesdays, shows 88 beds in use by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, 11 more than a week ago. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 4.98%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.

AAs of Thursday 4,459,604 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,999,896 have been fully vaccinated.

Tuesday, April 19

4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data

Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

1,369,614 cases (+1,544)
61,775 hospitalized (+27)
64 counties (+0)
4,844,206 people tested (+1,394)
17,262,317 test encounters (+7,661)
12,036 deaths among cases (+7)
13,141 deaths due to COVID-19 (+10)
8,572 outbreaks (+0)

The latest hospital data, which the state is now updating only on Wednesdays, shows 77 beds in use by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, 3 fewer than a week ago. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 4.82%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.

As of Tuesday, 4,458,735 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,999,198 have been fully vaccinated.

2 p.m. | RTD drops mask mandate inside buses, light rail following federal judge’s ruling

Denverites who take the bus or the light rail will no longer have to wear a face mask while doing so, Regional Transportation District officials said Tuesday.

The decision by RTD comes a day after a Florida judge ruled that a mask mandate on public transit exceeded the CDC's "statutory authority," effectively voiding the mandate just days after the CDC extended it for another two weeks.

RTD officials initially said Monday they would adhere to the previous mandate – which was set to expire on May 3 – until they received further guidance from the Transportation Security Administration.

By Monday night, the TSA said it would “no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs,” giving many airlines and airports, including DIA, the green light to lift mask mandates as well.

RTD officials said they will continue to encourage people to wear masks inside public transit as “use of facial coverings remains one of the most effective means of curbing COVID-19 transmission.”

The CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in public transit.

Read the full story here.

1:02 p.m. | Parker man facing federal charges for allegedly selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards across the US

A Parker man is facing federal charges in the state of Washington after allegedly selling hundreds of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards to people across the United States, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on Monday.

Robert Van Camp, a Parker resident, is being charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government of the United States after he allegedly downloaded an electronic copy of a COVID-19 vaccine card and used it to sell fake copies to hundreds of people across the U.S. to skirt around federal vaccine mandates.

The suspect portrayed himself to undercover federal agents as a regular citizen who was just doing his part to fight what he believed to be government overreach, claiming that what he was doing was “fixing this wrong.”

“We’re talking about people who can’t go to work, can’t go to school, and their (sic) losing their job,” Van Camp allegedly told one of the undercover agents. “Like, I’m not making cards cause I’m bored, I’m making cards cause I’m in the middle of a f-----g war.”

Van Camp would also reveal to undercover agents that he had “a lot of guns and ammo, like an arsenal” and that he was selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards because he was “trying not to kill anybody.”

“I’m exhausting myself doing cards, that I’m too tired to kill people,” Van Camp allegedly told one of the undercover agents, according to the affidavit. “But people need to go, like this is some evil, it literally is good versus evil, this is bad.”

In arresting documents, Van Camp allegedly claimed that was he was doing was not wrong because the COVID-19 vaccine cards he was selling were not “even really a fake or a copy – it’s the card. It’s just you didn’t go to a hospital to get it, you got it from me.”

However, to be eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccines (and therefore, obtain proof of COVID-19 vaccination), medical providers and other administers of the vaccine were required to enter into provider agreements with the CDC, which arresting documents assume Van Camp never did.

Read the full story here.

Monday, April 18

7:57 p.m. | DIA no longer requiring masks

Masks will no longer be required at the Denver International Airport after a Florida judge's ruling that a mask mandate on public transit, including airplanes, exceeded the CDC's "statutory authority," effectively voiding it.

In a tweet, the airport said it will follow the guidance of the Transportation Security Administration and no longer enforce the mask mandate.

We are following the direction of TSA who is no longer enforcing the mask mandate. It will take some time for us to remove the mask signage though.

— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) April 19, 2022

In a statement, TSA said it will no longer require masks.

4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data

Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. A reminder that today's state data is an aggregate from the weekend as well as Monday's.

1,368,070 cases (+2,839)
61,748 hospitalized (+22)
64 counties (+0)
4,842,812 people tested (+4,126)
17,254,656 test encounters (+32,564)
12,029 deaths among cases (+6)
13,131 deaths due to COVID-19 (+19)
8,572 outbreaks (+3)

The latest hospital data, which the state is now updating only on Wednesdays, shows 77 beds in use by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, 3 fewer than a week ago. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 4.63%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.

As of Tuesdayy, 4,457,450 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,998,412 have been fully vaccinated.

1:09 p.m. | DIA to keep mask mandate in place for the time being despite Florida judge's ruling on masks in public transit

Denver International Airport officials say a mask mandate will remain place for air travelers for the time being despite a Florida judge's ruling that a mask mandate on public transit, including airplanes, exceeded the CDC's "statutory authority," effectively voiding it just days after the CDC extended it for another two weeks.

The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking.

In a statement sent to Denver7 Monday, DIA officials said, "Until we receive further guidance from the federal government, DEN remains in compliance with the current mandate," which was recently extended until May 3.

It was not immediately clear if or when the order would go into effect or whether the CDC will appeal.

The Association of Flight Attendants released their own statement Monday, calling for patience and calm as they say it takes up to two days to implement changes in guidance.

"We will soon have more legal analysis on what this means and what next steps may be taken in court by the government. We urge focus on clear communication so that Flight Attendants and other frontline workers are not subject to more violence created by uncertainty and confusion," the statement reads, in part.

It continues, "We urge everyone to practice patience, remain calm, and to continue to follow crewmember instructions. And we remind passengers that it is legally required to follow crewmember instructions, and that disruptive behavior has serious consequences as it puts everyone at risk."

They encouraged travelers to check the latest updates from airlines for specific travel requirements while airlines implement any new policies.

American Airlines officials told ABC News Monday the mask mandate remains in place on their aircraft as they await on additional guidance from the federal government.

Regional Transportation District (RTD) officials say they will also adhere to the current mandate requiring masks inside public transit as it awaits “further guidance from the Transportation Security Administration regarding the impacts of the Florida judge’s recent ruling.”

A White House administration official told ABC News late Monday afternoon that today's court decision means that the CDC's public transportation masking order is not in effect at this time.

"Therefore, TSA will not enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs at this time. CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings," the official told ABC News.

Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for April 11-17, 2022.