More than 288,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 16,000 have been hospitalized as of Monday morning, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
READ MORE: List of Colorado businesses that are open
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:
Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, with the change from Saturday in parentheses.
308,890 cases (+2,292)
17,171 hospitalized (+41)
64 counties (+0)
2,034,633 people tested (+12,168)
4,044,560 test encounters (+39,692)
4,368 deaths among cases: (+29)
3,427 deaths due to COVID (+0)
2,820 outbreaks (+4)
The latest hospital data showed 1,398 beds in use by COVID-19 patients or suspected COVID-19 patients. Saturday's three-day average positivity rate in Colorado was 7.12%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
A total of 30,933 vaccines have been administered in Colorado as of Sunday.
Saturday, Dec. 19
4:06 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Saturday, with the change from Friday in parentheses.
306,598 cases (+2,491)
17,130 hospitalized (+110)
64 counties (+0)
2,022,465 people tested (+9,851)
4,004,868 test encounters (+33,004)
4,339 deaths among cases: (+80)
3,427 deaths due to COVID (+0)
2,816 outbreaks (+12)
The latest hospital data showed 1,433 beds in use by COVID-19 patients or suspected COVID-19 patients. Friday's three-day average positivity rate in Colorado was 7.58%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
Friday, Dec. 18
7:48 p.m. | CDPHE: Latest modeling data indicates infections are decreasing statewide
The CDPHE and the Colorado School of Public Health say the latest statewide modeling data report and updated regional models show thee Thanksgiving holiday have helped slow the spread of COVID-19.
They say transmission control (TC) of the virus improved across the state in recent weeks; hospital demand and cases have declined, but it will be weeks before both reach lower levels.
“The steady downward trend in Colorado is not what is being seen across the country. Colorado’s trend is much better than most states. Coloradans’ actions and Colorado policies made a difference and prevented a substantial Thanksgiving surge and have led to the declines we are seeing now,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist for the CDPHE.
Some of they key findings from the report show:
- Transmission control continues to improve and is now at 82%, but December holidays are ahead.
- There is no evidence of a Thanksgiving bump, up to 18 days after the holiday.
- The effective reproductive number is below 1, meaning that the epidemic is declining, but infection prevalence remains dangerously high. An estimated 1 in 59 Coloradans is currently infectious.
- Infections are decreasing or flat in most LPHA regions (Local Public Health Agencies) across the state. The estimated effective reproductive number varies from 0.6 to 1.2. Infections are spreading most rapidly in the East Central region and continue to increase in the Northwest LPHA region. Infection prevalence remains high in most regions.
- At the current level of transmission control, hospital demand and cases will continue to decline, but it will be weeks before hospital demand and infection prevalence reach low levels, for example as low as during the summer. This declining trajectory could be reversed by holiday lapses. Potential peaks are lower than projected previously.
5:27 p.m. | Larimer County submits application for state's 5-star program
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce says Larimer County has applied for the 5-star program, better known as the Level Up Program with the CDPHE this afternoon.
If approved, Larimer County will be able to operate at less restrictive levels if businesses demonstrate compliance with local health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Officials say approval could come as early as next week.
4:30 p.m. | State launches COVID-19 vaccine dial
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has launched a COVID-19 vaccine dashboard to track vaccination data as immunizations take place across the state.
State health officials say the data will include information about the current phase of vaccinations and how many doses have been administered. It will be updated at 4 p.m. daily.
"Throughout the pandemic, CDPHE has prioritized data transparency and provides some of the most robust data in the nation and will continue to do the same with vaccine distribution," CDPHE officials said in a statement Fridya. "As providers administer more vaccine doses, CDPHE will be able to add additional data points to this dashboard."
As of Thursday, 12,123 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to people working directly with COVID-19 patients, and residents and staff at long-term care facilities, which have seen among the largest outbreaks and number of deaths in Colorado during the pandemic.
To see the dashboard, click here. To learn more about the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, click here.
4 p.m. | Cases of the novel coronavirus in Colorado continue at high plateau, positivity rate decreasing but still above recommended levels
Colorado reported its third consecutive day of new cases of the novel coronavirus above 3,000, while also continuing to report a drop in hospitalizations across the state. However, the state's positivity over the past week remains nearly at 10% - double of what is recommended to curb the spread of the disease. Here are the latest figures from the CDPHE:
304,107 cases (+3,693)
17,020 hospitalized (+316)
64 counties (+0)
2,012,614 people tested (+14,138)
3,971,864 test encounters (+47,792)
4,259 deaths among cases: (+33)
3,427 deaths due to COVID (+106)
2,804 outbreaks (+37)
The latest hospital data shows 1,476 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 33 fewer than Thursday with 188 patients discharged or transferred from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 95% of state hospitals reporting. Thursday's seven-day and three-day average positivity rates in Colorado were 8.41% and 7.93%, respectively. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado
12:10 p.m. | St. Vrain Valley Schools return to school in January
On Jan. 6, elementary students in St. Vrain Valley Schools will return to in-person learning four days a week. Middle school students will begin remotely and return to hybrid learning on Jan. 11. High schoolers will begin remotely and return to hybrid learning on Jan. 19.
11:50 a.m.. | Jeffco Public Schools details return to school plan for January 2021
In letter sent to parents, students and staff of Jeffco Public Schools, the district said they will begin classes in January remotely. There are "serious concerns" about a potential surge in the spread of the virus following winter break, the letter reads.
"Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) has advised us to provide for a 14-day incubation period prior to opening our schools for in-person instruction to avoid virus spread which could lead to immediate quarantines," the letter reads. "Therefore, we will begin the semester in remote learning on our current weekly schedule, and then implement a staggered reopening plan to ensure the sustainability of in-person instruction and avoid interruption due to virus spread or major quarantines."
Thursday, Dec. 17
9:59 p.m. | Colorado to receive nearly 17,000 fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Colorado will receive nearly 17,000 fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement from the governor's office this evening.
"For several weeks, Colorado had been planning for a 12/18 allocation of 56,550 Pfizer doses,," the statement reads. "We learned this week that Operation Warp Speed (OWS) leadership has made a decision that changes what we had expected to receive. Colorado’s next Pfizer allocation is expected to be 39,780 doses with 25,740 transferred to the CDC Pharmacy Partnership Program to support onsite vaccination of Colorado’s skilled nursing facilities and 14,040 assigned to providers."
The statement continued, "Currently, the CDC notifies the state on a week by week basis what we can expect for the upcoming week. OWS is changing their approach so that we get the same allocation each week. If additional doses become available, OWS will distribute those additional doses periodically."
Pfizer also released a statement Thursday evening, stating: "Pfizer is not having any production issues with our COVID-19 vaccine, and no shipments containing the vaccine are on hold or delayed. This week, we successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them. We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses."
4:50 | Eagle County bar manager issued criminal summons for alleged capacity violation
The Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office issued a criminal summons for the manager at the Bridge Street Bar in Vail for allegedly allowing too many people inside.
According to District Attorney Bruce Brown’s office, a Vail Police Department officer observed a large group of people near the bar at 3 a.m. on Dec. 12. Review of video confirmed approximately 80 people left the bar at closing, double the capacity permitted inside under the Eagle County Public Health Order capacity of 25%.
The DA’s office issued the criminal summons for Edward Schoenbein, 43, the manager who oversaw operations at the Bridge Street Bar. Schoenbein is scheduled to be arraigned on charges in the Eagle County Court on March 17, 2021.
Violation of a Public Health Order is a misdemeanor with a possible punishment of six months in jail and/or a $500 fine.
Eagle County is currently in Level Orange on the state’s COVID-19 dial and was also in Level Orange the day of the alleged offense. As of Thursday, Eagle, County has 3,023 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and reported one death for a total of 14 deaths among COVID-19 patients in the county.
4:30 p.m. | Ruby Hill Park Rail Yard, sledding hill closed due to COVID-19 restrictions
Denver Parks and Recreation announced the Rail Yard at Ruby Hill Park will not open for the 2020/2021 season. The sledding hill will also be closed until further notice.
Public Health Order capacity limits for outdoor activities, physical distancing requirements and other COVID-19 restrictions led to the decision.
Denver Parks and Recreation said they’re working with public health officials to determine how to safely open park amenities and facilities.
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Thursday, with the change from Wednesday in parentheses:
300,41`4 cased (+3,698)
16,704 hospitalized (+90)
64 counties (+0)
1,998,476 tested (+12,726)
3,924,072 test encounters (+46,805)
4,226 deaths among cases (+70)
3,321 deaths due to COVID-19 (+91)
2,767 outbreaks (+31)
The latest hospital data showed 1,509 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 32 fewer than Wednesday. Colorado's three-day average positivity rate Wednesday was 7.80%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
3:45 p.m. | 8,000 vaccine doses administered so far
Colorado health officials reported 8,217 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, as of 3 p.m. Thursday. That's out of 46,790 doses across 24 facilities in Colorado. The state is expected to be receiving thousands more vaccines in the next week, as an FDA panel on Thursday endorsed emergency use of the Moderna vaccine. Formal approval from the FDA is expected Friday, following a similar timeline to last week's approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
7:30 a.m. | State unemployment numbers
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported Thursday morning that 19,854 regular initial unemployment claims were filed during the week ending Dec. 12. There were also 20,621 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims filed for the same week.
Since mid-March, a total of 682,362 regular initial unemployment claims have been filed. A grand total of 916,915 claims, including federal PUA benefits, were filed.
For the week ending on Dec. 5, a combined total of 255,671 continued claims were filed from the regular UI (97,108), PUA (83,656), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (74,907) programs.
6:15 a.m. | Update on Denver's response to COVID-19
Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Department of Public Health & Environment Executive Director Bob McDonald will provide an update on Denver’s response to COVID-19 Thursday at 11 a.m. They will discuss current data and trends, vaccination distribution plans and vaccine safety.
Denver7 will stream this update live on our mobile, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire apps, as well as our Facebook page.
Wednesday, Dec. 16
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the change from Tuesday in parentheses:
296,716 cases (+3,334)
16,614 (+127)
64 counties (+0)
1,985,750 people tested (+10,065)
3,877,267 test encounters (+35,442)
4,156 deaths among cases (+71)
3,230 deaths due to COVID-19 (+12)
2,736 outbreaks (+66)
The latest hospital data showed 1,541 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, thirteen less than Tuesday. Colorado's latest three-day positivity rate was 8.39%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
3:18 p.m. | Deaths in Colorado expected to continue increase
Dr. Eric France, the chief medical officer for the CDPHE, said Wednesday that the number of new cases and hospitalizations continue to drop, signaling that Coloradans did successfully avoid a post-Thanksgiving spike.
But because of the delay in deaths caused by COVID-19, which often come days or weeks after a person is infected and hospitalized, and by a lag in death reporting, death numbers will continue to rise for at least another week – after which Colorado could see a decline.
France said that with the vaccine now being administered to the first round of COVID-19 health care workers and long term residential care facilities, Colorado will likely start to see the number of people hospitalized falling in the next two or three months as more people are vaccinated – particularly at residential care facilities.
11:58 a.m. | MacKenzie Scott donates $20 million to Mile High United Way
MacKenzie Scott donated $20 million this year to Mile High United Way – the largest single donation in the organization’s 133-year history – and also gave to Goodwill of Colorado as part of her 2020 philanthropy.
The author and philanthropist has given away more than $4.1 billion over the past several months to hundreds of organizations struggling or helping people who are struggling during the pandemic, she announced Tuesday.
Scott, who divorced Jeff Bezos last year and received a reported $35 billion settlement, said in a Medium post that she and a team had looked at thousands of organizations to potentially receive the contributions and had picked an initial list of 384 to which to donate.
Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero said the organization had “deep gratitude” for Scott’s donation and that the money would go toward more “transformational work” in Colorado.
Click here to read the full story.
10:56 a.m. | Update on vaccine administration in Colorado
The CDPHE said Tuesday evening that it had received 25,350 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and expected to receive another 12,675 on Wednesday.
As of Tuesday evening, five facilities had administered 294 doses of the vaccine. The state said vaccine deliveries would continue through Wednesday to the remaining 21 vaccine recipient sites that will receive the Pfizer vaccine.
6:45 a.m | COVID-19 testing facility at DIA
XpresSpa Group, Inc., a health and wellness company, in conjunction with the Denver International Airport, is opening an XpresCheck COVID-19 testing facility at the airport today. It is available for all passengers and airport employees and contractors.
XpresCheck is a pop-up facility in the center of Concourse B after security. The facility has six testing rooms. Officials anticipate that it will be able to administer more than 400 tests per day. Costs for the services begin at $75. All insurance plans are accepted outside of network and all information will remain private and HIPAA-compliant.
COVID-19 testing options will include the Rapid Molecular COVID-19 Test and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
4:24 p.m. | Pueblo County activates "Deployable Morgue Unit" to support overflow of dead patients at morgues in the county
The Pueblo County Coroner says his office has activated a "deployable morgue unit" to support health care and deathcare providers in the county. Currently, Pueblo County ranks 7th in the number of COVID-19 deaths across Colorado.
The Pueblo County Coroner's Office has activated it's Deployable Morgue Unit. The unit is staged and operating in support of the Healthcare and Deathcare providers in the County. It will be used for the short-term storage of recently deceased persons awaiting final arrangements. pic.twitter.com/pL8L7ueTEy
— Pueblo County Coroner (@CoronerPueblo) December 15, 2020
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the change from Monday in parentheses:
293,382 cases (+2,278)
16,487 hospitalized (+313)
64 counties (+0)
1,975,685 tested (+6,804)
3,841,825 test encounters (+31,936)
4,085 deaths among cases (+116)
3,218 deaths due to COVID-19 (+132)
2,670 outbreaks (+39)
The latest hospital data showed 1,554 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 31 fewer than Monday, with 94% of hospitals reporting data. Colorado's three-day positivity rate was 8.42%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
2:00 p.m. | Polis says Colorado avoided Thanksgiving surge
Officials have warned the public for weeks about an expected surge of COVID-19 cases related to Thanksgiving travel. However, Gov. Jared Polis said Tuesday that Colorado appears to have avoided a rise in cases as the number of infections continues to decline in the state.
Colorado's three-day average positivity rates -- a measure of how much the virus has spread – has flattened out over the past 7 days. Sunday's seven-day and three-day average positivity rates in Colorado were 9.67% and 9.49%, respectively. The state's goal is to remain below 5%. However, those rates were surging above 13% days before and after Thanksgiving.
Polis said Coloradans made the right decisions over the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Thankfully, Coloradans did very well and were thoughtful, collectively," Polis said. "But by in large, the numbers bare out that Coloradans made good, science-informed decisions to keep their families safe. And that is why we have not experienced the same Thanksgiving surge as other states."
The governor encouraged Coloradans to make the same data-driven decisions around their Christmas plans.
Monday, Dec. 14
4:55 p.m | Pitkin County requires traveler affidavit to visit overnight
Beginning Monday, Pitkin County announced anyone staying one night or more in the county will be required to complete a traveler affidavit to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The affidavit is required by anyone over the age of 10. It is not required for a day visit.
The county is requiring visitors who plan to stay overnight be symptom free for 10 days prior to your travel and either quarantine for 10 days or completed a test.
Failure to comply is a violation of the Pitkin County Public Health Order and may result in a $5,000 fine.
4:45 p.m | NCHD expects allotted COVID-19 vaccines this week
The Northeast Colorado Health Department said their district will be allotted 315 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which they expect to arrive some time this week.
The doses will go to three local locations where providers will begin administering them to health care workers most at risk from COVID-19, based on the state’s phased distribution plan.
Their vaccine supplies will increase exponentially over the next weeks and months was manufacturing increases and other vaccines become available, according to the health department.
“Because COVID-19 is closely related to other coronaviruses, scientists have utilized knowledge gained through the development of other vaccines that have already been approved and extensively tested in humans to create this new vaccine, therefore taking advantage of the years of research, preclinical trials, and early-phase safety trials that have already been conducted to move quickly into human trials for this vaccine. The take-away is that any vaccines approved for a EUA must be safe for the public.” the department said.
4 p.m. | Colorado reports less than 3,000 new cases for a second-straight day.
Colorado reported under 3,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday and the state also saw the positivity rate decline below 10% - though, it is still nearly double of what is recommended by state health officials to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Here are the latest figures from the CDPHE:
291,104 cases (+2,911)
16,174 hospitalized (+48)
64 counties (+0)
1,968,881 people tested (+13,275)
3,809,889 test encounters (+36,588)
3,969 deaths among cases: (+11)
3,086 deaths due to COVID (+74)
2,631 outbreaks (+17)
The latest hospital data shows 1,585 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 25 fewer than Sunday with 142 patients discharged or transferred from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 87% of state hospitals reporting. Sunday's seven-day and three-day average positivity rates in Colorado were 9.67% and 9.49%, respectively. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado
9:30 a.m. | COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Colorado; Polis urges hospitals to begin doses within 72 hours
Gov. Jared Polis on Monday morning urged Colorado hospitals to begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine within 72 hours of receiving shipments of it, as the vaccine arrived in Colorado.
Polis — who was on hand to receive Colorado's first shipment of the vaccine at 8 a.m. Monday — asked hospital administrators to confirm to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) of their plans to start issuing the vaccine and request support from the CDPHE if they need it.
"Colorado is expecting to begin receiving initial, limited doses of COVID vaccine this week, and we need to be ready to hit the ground running," Polis wrote in the letter.
"Our ability to quickly vaccinate prioritized populations and report those doses as administered to the Colorado Immunization Information System is paramount to Colorado’s ability to receive future allocations of COVID vaccine and end this public health crisis."
Polis and health officials were at a state health building in Denver on Monday as the first shipment of the vaccine arrived. Hearing a ring signaling the shipment's arrival, Polis raised a garage door and signed for the FedEx shipment of the vaccine.
"Show me where to sign," Polis told the FedEx delivery driver. "I've been waiting to do this signature for nine months."
Click here to read the full story.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog from Dec. 7-Dec. 13, 2020.
