More than 866,400 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 49,500 have been hospitalized as of Monday afternoon, 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, December 24
9:10 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
886,250 cases (+5,132)
50,146 hospitalized (+33)
64 counties (+0)
4,266,594 people tested (+13,875)
13,918,999 test encounters (+56,426)
10,074 deaths among cases (+22)
10,383 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
7,132 outbreaks (+4)
The latest hospital data show 1,068 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 9.76%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 4,201,503 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,790,089 have been fully vaccinated.
10:20 a.m. | Omicron in Pitkin County update
The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office says the county's COVID-19 incidence rate surged with the prevalence of the omicron variant, quadrupling in the past five days.
County officials are asking residents to wear masks indoors, stay home if they feel sick and get tested, and to avoid large gatherings.
Thursday, December 23
9:16 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
881,188 cases (+3,611)
50,113 hospitalized (+38)
64 counties (+0)
4,252,719 people tested (+7,439)
13,862,573 test encounters (+36,686)
10,052 deaths among cases (+14)
10,383 deaths due to COVID-19 (+44)
7,128 outbreaks (+8)
The latest hospital data show 1,081 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 7.80%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
AsAs of Friday4,195,922 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,786,288 have been fully vaccinated.
11:34 a.m. | Five additional cases of the omicron variant confirmed in Denver, bringing the total to 7 so far
Five additional cases of the omicron variant were confirmed by the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) Thursday morning, bringing the total number of cases in the city and county to seven.
The cases were community-acquired, the DDPE said, meaning community transmission is likely already happening the Denver metro area.
The DDPHE did not disclose the vaccination status of these five additional cases, though the first two were reported among fully vaccinated people.
"The emergence of a new variant underscores the importance of following public health guidance, including getting vaccinated and getting a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While breakthrough infections after vaccination are possible, vaccination protects against severe illness and hospitalization," the city said in a news release.
State health officials said Wednesday the variant is now widespread across Colorado and makes up nearly half of all new infections in the state.
Wednesday, December 22
10:06 p.m. | Omicron variant detected in Larimer County wastewater treatment facilities
The omicron variant has been detected at multiple wastewater treatment facilities across Larimer County, according to the county's health department.
The Larimer County Department of Public Health and Environment said municipal sewersheds throughout the county are monitored to detect whether COVID-19 or its variants are present. Monitoring wastewater coming from businesses and residences can serve as an early warning signal that COVID-19 is present in a specific area, the department said.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and environment previously confirmed the omicron variant had been detected in multiple wastewater systems, including Boulder, Aurora, Commerce City, Lakewood and Denver.
CDPHE said Wednesday the omicron variant makes up half of all new infections in the state. Scientists are still learning more about the variant, but early information indicates it has a significantly greater ability to transmit from person to person compared to previous variants.
LCDHE recommends residents in the county get vaccinated, wear masks and get tested for COVID-19 if experiencing symptoms.
9:49 p.m. | Rams men's basketball game against New Mexico postponed
The 2021-22 Mountain West men's basketball opener between the Colorado State Rams and the New Mexico Lobos has been postponed due to COVID-19-related concerns.
The game was scheduled for Dec. 28 in Albuquerque.
If the game cannot be rescheduled, it will be declared a no contest, according to CSU.
9:25 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
877,507 cases (+3,723)
50,075 hospitalized (+265)
64 counties (+0)
4,245,280 people tested (+7,557)
13,825,887 test encounters (+37,440)
10,038 deaths among cases (+34)
10,339 deaths due to COVID-19 (+52)
7,120 outbreaks (+21)
The latest hospital data show 1,081 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 18 fewer than Tuesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 7.80%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
AAs of Thursday 4,190,237 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,781,679 have been fully vaccinated.
5:30 p.m. | Omicron variant now makes up nearly half of all new infections in Colorado, CDPHE says
The omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is now widespread across Colorado and makes up nearly half of all new infections in the state, according to state health officials.
The variant, which is likely spreading at a faster rate in mountain communities and across the Denver metro area, now accounts for nearly 50% of all new infections detected through PCR testing done by the state as of Dec. 17, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy.
Explaining the findings during a Wednesday news conference, Herlihy said the data showed there’s been a really rapid increase in the proportion of positive PCR tests that have been identified with the signature profile associated with the omicron variant, called the S gene target failure, or SGTF.
“We could infer from this that potentially half of what we’re seeing in the state – at least as of a couple of days ago – is potentially the omicron variant,” Herlihy said. “At this point, we do believe that omicron is widespread across the state and there is likely transmission occurring in many of our communities, if not most of our communities now.”
Colorado has also identified key signatures of omicron in all 21 of the wastewater systems participating in detection, Herlihy said.
While there’s still much to learn, she said it is becoming clear by the data available from South Africa and some European countries that the omicron variant appears to be more transmissible than previous strains of SARS-CoV-2. Data also shows there’s twice as much risk of a close contact becoming infected with omicron compared to the delta variant.
Herlihy also said that even though state data pointed to omicron being more capable of evading vaccine-induced immunity leading to breakthrough infections, two doses of an mRNA vaccine still offered high levels of protection against severe disease, but a third dose offered the highest level of protection both against infection and severe disease.
Data continues to be mixed on severity, which makes it nearly impossible to model how the state will fare when it comes to hospitalizations in the coming weeks, as data on severity is one of the key metrics needed to make projections, Herlihy said.
State health officials continue to stress the importance of getting tested, especially if you’re planning to travel over the holidays to gather with family members you haven't seen in a while. Current CDC guidance states vaccinated people should get tested five to seven days after their last known exposure and quarantine for ten days if they test positive or show symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Herlihy urged Coloradans – regardless of vaccination status – to continue practicing mitigation strategies that have been in place since the pandemic begin to curb the spread of omicron, including the wearing of high-quality masks while indoors, getting tested for COVID-19, avoiding large gatherings, social distancing, ventilating indoor environments as much as possible, and isolating and staying home if showing symptoms.
5:26 p.m. | Regis University requiring COVID-19 booster shots
Regis University announced Wednesday it’s now requiring its students to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.
The university already requires students to be vaccinated. The campus has a 94% vaccination rate.
Regis is requiring all students to receive a booster shot by Feb 1. 2022 or six months after receiving a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna and two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Faculty, staff and students will be required to show proof of receiving a booster shot.
“Booster shots are vital to protect the community from infection, serious illness and hospitalization,” Regis University President Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons said in a statement. “We need everyone to do their part not only to protect their own health but the health of your colleagues, classmates, friends and neighbors. Vaccination is particularly vital to help relieve our health care professionals who are carrying the burden of consistent high hospitalization rates largely due to unvaccinated individuals contracting COVID-19.”
The university said it’s planning to offer opportunities to receive a booster on campus in January, but the university also urged students, faculty and staff to make getting a booster part of their winter break plans. Further information will be released on the opportunities when it’s available.
Universities and colleges across the state continue to monitor the state of COVID-19 as the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, but many are not requiring boosters at this time.
As of Dec. 17, the University of Colorado Denver, Colorado State University and Colorado School of Mines require COVID-19 vaccinations, but they do not require boosters. Metropolitan State University Denver requires vaccinations or weekly COVID-19 testing. It does not require boosters.
11:10 a.m. | Eagle County Board of Health reinstates mask mandate
The Eagle County Board of Health convened for an emergency session on Wednesday and reinstated a countywide mask mandate indoors regardless of vaccination status. It applies to all indoor public spaces. This decision is in response to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the community.
Previously, the county's case count was about 300 cases per 100,000, but as of Wednesday, that number was reported at over 1,000 cases per 100,000 — the highest during the pandemic.
The public health order will become active at noon today.
The order will expire on Jan. 17, 2022. It will be reevaluated then, the board of health said.
Tuesday, December 21
4:43 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
873,784 cases (+3,351)
49,810 hospitalized (+66)
64 counties (+0)
4,237,723 people tested (+6,570)
13,788,447 test encounters (+33,462)
10,004 deaths among cases (+86)
10,287 deaths due to COVID-19 (+73)
7,099 outbreaks (+11)
The latest hospital data show 1,099 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 89 fewer than Monday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 7.08%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Wednesdayay, 4,183,165 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,776,942 have been fully vaccinated.
1:15 p.m. | Omicron variant likely to surge in Colorado’s mountains communities first, Polis says
Coloradans and tourists headed to the mountains this holiday season should exercise caution and take steps to protect themselves as the highly transmissible omicron variant continues to spread across the state, Governor Jared Polis said during a news conference Tuesday.
“Omicron is here in Colorado. We have community spread. It’s a higher level in many areas of the state that experience increased visitation and travel,” Polis said early Tuesday afternoon.
His remarks come hours after Elbert County Public Health officials said data modeling show Colorado’s mountain communities, including Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, Lake, Gunnison, Chaffee, La Plata, Archuleta, San Miguel, San Juan, Ouray, Clear Creek, Grand, Routt and Garfield counties, “may be among the first to experience challenges related to Omicron.”
Asked if he would consider reinstating a mask mandate to curb the spread of omicron, especially in mountain communities were the virus could be spreading at a faster rate due to the presence of out-of-state visitors, Polis once again said he would leave the decision up to local public health officials and encouraged people to instead get vaccinated and get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine if they hadn’t already done so.
“Masks help reduce transmission indoors around others,” Polis said. “Now the larger picture is, getting vaccinated has a bigger effect on protecting yourself.”
He pointed to state data, which shows you are 47 times less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 after getting three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
While the delta variant continues to be the dominant strain of the virus in Colorado, the latest data from the state’s COVID-19 website shows omicron now makes up nearly 10% of all cases since it was first detected in the state on Dec. 2.
Monday, December 20
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Despite the surge of cases and hospitalizations across the U.S., Colorado continues to trend downward when it comes to these metrics, according to 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.
870,433 cases (+3,956)
49,744 hospitalized (+177)
64 counties (+0)
4,231,153 people tested (+12,992)
13,674,985 test encounters (+74,613)
9,918 deaths among cases (+56)
10,214 deaths due to COVID-19 (+76)
7,088 outbreaks (+15)
The latest hospital data show 1,188 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 60 fewer than Sunday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 6.73%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesdayy, 4,176,992 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,771,723 have been fully vaccinated.
3:18 p.m. | Denver identifies its first two cases of the omicron variant
Health officials announced Monday that two vaccinated people in the city of Denver have tested positive for the COVID-19 omicron variant. It’s the first time the variant has been identified in the city.
The two cases were community-acquired, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE), indicating community transmission in the area.
One case was detected in a fully vaccinated man who had received a booster dose of the vaccine, while the other was a fully vaccinated woman who did not get a booster shot. Both individuals have reported mild symptoms, according to the DDPHE. At this time, no known close contacts associated with either case have tested positive for the variant.
The new mutation has now been detected in at least five Colorado counties as of Monday. Cases have been reported in Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson, and Garfield counties. It was first identified in the state in mid-November.
Federal, state and local health officials continue to stress that vaccination is the best method of preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts says it is canceling Tuesday's The Lion King performances at the Buell Theatre after breakthrough COVID-19 cases were detected within the company.
Officials said tickets for Tuesday's 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances will be refunded. People who purchased tickets through third-party vendors will need to contact them directly for refund information, DCPA officials said in a news release.
The DCPA canceled Sunday's 6:30 p.m. performance of The Lion King after officials were made aware of COVID-19 breakthrough infections within the company.
11:34 a.m. | Two gyms cited for violating Denver's "mask or vax" mandate
Two Denver gyms have been cited for violating the city's "mask or vax" mandate, which requires businesses to ask guests to wear a mask or show proof of fully COVID-19 vaccination in indoor public spaces.
The Zone Athletic Club, located at 7150 Leetsdale Drive, was cited on Nov. 29, and the Orange Theory on 3300 W. 32nd Ave., was cited a day later, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
A total of 93 warnings have been issued since the new public health order went into effect on Nov. 24, and the city has received 296 complaints, according to the latest figures provided by the DDPHE.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for Dec. 13-Dec. 19, 2021.
