More than 413,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and 22,700 have been hospitalized as of Sunday afternoon, 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, Feb. 21
6:00 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, with the change from Saturday in parentheses:
420,614 cases (+802)
23,169 hospitalizations (+13)
64 counties
2,533,271 people tested (+5,199)
6,011,339 test encounters (+24,094)
5,892 deaths among cases (+5)
5,719 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
3,806 outbreaks (+0)
The latest hospital data showed 440 beds in use by COVID-19 patients. Colorado's seven-day positivity rate was 3.63% on Saturday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Sunday, 797,634 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 379,144 people had received two doses.
Saturday, Feb. 20
4:24 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Saturday, with the change from Friday in parentheses:
419,812 cases (+1,117)
23,156 hospitalizations (+55)
64 counties
2,528,072 people tested (+5,171)
5,987,245 test encounters (+26,473)
5,887 deaths among cases (+9)
5,719 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
3,806 outbreaks (+9)
The latest hospital data showed 437 beds in use by COVID-19 patients. Colorado's seven-day positivity rate was 3.65% on Friday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Saturday, 783,583 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 365,220 people had received two doses.
Friday, Feb. 19
4 p.m. | Nearly 1,300 new cases of COVID-19 Colorado reported Friday, 3rd consecutive day of growth in cases, per CDPHE data
The number new coronavirus cases in Colorado grew for a third straight day this week with nearly 1,300 new cases reported Friday, according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Hospitalizations for the disease, however, continue to see a decline.
418,695 cases (+1,280)
23,101 hospitalizations (+54)
64 counties (+0)
2,522,901 people tested (+6,543)
5,960,772 test encounters (+33,980)
5,878 deaths among cases (+14)
5,719 deaths due to COVID-19 (+35)
3,797 outbreaks (+11)
The latest hospital data showed 451 beds in use by COVID-19 patients, 11 fewer than Thursday. Colorado's seven-day positivity rate was 3.63% on Thursday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 767,803 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 348,031 people had received two doses.
2:30 p.m. | Fort Carson offering COVID-19 beneficiaries 65 and older
Fort Carson is currently offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments to TRICARE beneficiaries 65-years and older beginning Feb. 26, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center, a spokesperson said Friday.
To book an appointment, please call the Colorado Military Health System Access to Care Line at (719) 526-2273. Vaccines are by appointment only, walk-ins are not permitted. Enrollment at Evans Army Community Hospital is not necessary for TRICARE beneficiaries to receive the vaccine.
Officials said Fort Carson remains in the 1B phase of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Vaccine Distribution Plan. In addition to offering vaccines to TRICARE beneficiaries age 65-years and older, Evans Army Community Hospital continues to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers and emergency services personnel, national critical capabilities, and Soldiers preparing to deploy to locations outside of the continental U.S.
1:16 p.m. | Mayor Hancock sends letter to Biden administration requesting direct allocation to cities of COVID-19 vaccine
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on Thursday sent a letter to the Biden administration requesting direct access to the COVID-19 vaccine to speed up distribution in order to better address the needs of Denver's population amid the pandemic. The Thursday letter comes a month after Hancock and 35 other mayors across the country asked the then-incoming administration to give their cities direct access to COVID-19 vaccines.
City officials said the request would help those experiencing homelessness, communities of color and communities who have faced greater disparities and COVID-19 impacts.
1:16 p.m. | Mayor Hancock town hall focused on Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders to air on PBS this weekend
A town hall in which Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, along with experts, discussed the coronavirus, vaccines, and how to better serve communities of color and older Coloradans in the city's fight against the pandemic will air on Rocky Mountain PBS on Saturday at 6 p.m. and on Sunday at 10 a.m.
The town halls from the mayor are addressing the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic, stressing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and addressing the very real feelings of fear and distrust that exist between communities of color, older adults and the medical community, according to a news release.
12:19 p.m. | Eagle County re-scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments due to disruption of COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Eagle County officials say they are moving COVID-19 vaccine appointments originally scheduled for Feb. 20 at Battle Mountain High School to Feb. 27 due to the disruption of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution that happened because of winter weather in the Midwest and the East Coast.
The county says the shipment comprised entirely of second doses, which can still be administered for those eligible to receive them.
People who were scheduled for Feb. 20 have been notified of the date change.
"Officials remain optimistic and highlight that the typical process for administering the vaccine is fast and efficient in Eagle County, with wait times at clinics averaging about twenty minutes including the fifteen minute observation time," county officials said in a news release. "The vaccination process will move forward when the expected supply is delivered."
Thursday, Feb. 18
5:15 p.m. | Colorado hits 1 million milestone in total vaccinations in the state
During a press conference Thursday, state officials confirmed more than 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Colorado.
In total 748,151 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 333,859 people had received two doses. The state is also 86% towards their goal of vaccinating 70% of 70 and up Coloradans by the end of February. In total, 337,124 out of 393,400 Coloradans 70 and up have been vaccinated.
For first responders, health care workers, emergency workers in Phase 1B, close to 90% have been vaccinated.
According to Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado Department of Health and Environment state epidemiologist, Colorado currently has 71 cases of B. 1. 1. 7, the variant traced back to the U.K., which is considered a variant of concern because it may be spread easier, cause more severe cases, reduce the effectiveness of treatments and vaccines and harder to detect using current tests.
There are currently 29 cases of L452R, the variant traced back to California and Denmark, which is considered a variant under investigation because it has different characteristics of the original virus but not considered a variant of concern.
Overall, cases and hospitalizations continue to trend down in Colorado. All alternative care sites have been decommissioned, and equipment will be transferred to state agencies or sold. The state is also making a concerted effort to reuse or recycle whatever PPE they can.
Watch the full press conference below:
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Thursday, with the change from Wednesday in parentheses:
417,415 cases (+1,241)
23,047 hospitalizations (+125)
64 counties (+0)
2,516,358 people tested (+5,719)
5,926,792 test encounters (+30,591)
5,864 deaths among cases (+26)
5,684 deaths due to COVID-19 (+28)
3,786 outbreaks (+12)
The latest hospital data showed 462 beds in use by COVID-19 patients, 20 less than Wednesday. Colorado's seven-day positivity rate was 3.66% on Wednesday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 748,151 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 333,859 people had received two doses.
9:30 a.m. | Denver Opens First Community-Based Vaccination Site
The City and County of Denver will open its first community-based site at Montbello Recreation Center today. This is in partnership with Denver Health and Hospital Authority (DHHA). Pre-registration is required.
The city is focusing on equity-driven strategies at community-based sites to improve vaccine access for Denver's older adults, people with disabilities, immigrant and refugee communities and racial and ethnic minority groups that are increased risk of dying from COVID-19.
7:30 a.m. | State labor department update on unemployment
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reported that an estimated 12,151 regular initial unemployment claims were filed during the week ending Feb. 13.
Since mid-March 2020, an estimated total of 818,005 regular initial unemployment claims have been filed.
There were also 8,000 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed during the week ending Feb. 13.
For the week ending Feb. 6, a combined total of 184,755 continued claims were filed from the regular UI (69,993), PUA (67,481), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) (47,281) programs.
CDLE estimates those continued claims were filed by approximately 129,181 individuals (63,459 for regular UI; 39,955 for PUA, and 25,767 for PEUC).
Wednesday, Feb. 17
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the change from Tuesday in parentheses:
416,174 cases (+1,137)
22,922 (+85)
64 counties (+0)
2,510,639 people tested (+5,052)
5,896,201 test encounters (+26,832)
5,838 deaths among cases (+10)
5,656 deaths due to COVID-19 (+1)
3,774 outbreaks (+26)
The latest hospital data showed 482 beds in use by COVID-19 patients, 20 more than Tuesday. Colorado's seven-day positivity rate was 3.72% on Tuesday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Wednesday, 723,942 Coloradans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 321,826 people had received two doses.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
6:50 p.m. | Shipment delays postponing Northern Colorado vaccination clinics
Some upcoming vaccinations clinics in Northern Colorado have been impacted by shipment delays.
Team Rubicon, a veteran-led global disaster response organization, confirmed Tuesday vaccination clinics Wednesday and this weekend at The Ranch Event Complex in Loveland had to be moved to March 6-7. Extreme weather in the Midwest is causing vaccine shipments to be delayed.
Further operation dates remain the same, according to Team Rubicon, but could still potentially change.
Weld County and Larimer County are taking the lead on this event and UCHealth is assisting.
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data in Colorado
The latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) shows a continued downward trend in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The data below shows the changes from Monday in parentheses.
415,037 cases (+668)
22,837 hospitalized (+25)
64 counties (+0)
2,505,587 people tested (+2,325)
5,869,369 test encounters (+8,056)
5,828 deaths among cases (+2)
5,655 deaths due to COVID-19 (+74)
3,748 outbreaks (+10)
The latest hospital data showed 441 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 21 fewer than Monday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 3.69% on Sunday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 704,052 people have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 313,842 people have received two doses.
3:55 p.m. | Tennessee winter storm affecting COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Colorado
Winter storms in Tennessee are disrupting the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, health officials said Tuesday.
A Tennessee distribution hub has delayed shipments of the vaccine to several states, including Colorado’s allocation of 133,000 vaccines that were expected to arrive this week, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The agency said it’s working with health care providers and public health agencies across the state to make adjustments over the coming days to make sure appointments and clinics do not need to be canceled.
Monday, Feb. 15
6:06 p.m. | Polis, other governors ask Biden admin. for more transparency, coordination in vaccine rollout
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and a bipartisan group of governors wrote a letter to President Joe Biden Monday asking him to provide better clarity in how the administration is rolling out vaccine doses and how the federal government can better coordinate its programs with states that are more familiar with their own on-the-ground needs.
The letter came from the executive committee of the National Governor’s Association and was signed by Polis and eight other governors of both parties.
In news conferences in recent weeks, Polis, a Democrat, has applauded the Biden administration’s plan to roll out enough vaccines for all Americans by the end of the summer but also expressed some concerns with the federal programs to send vaccine directly to nursing and long-term care facilities, pharmacies and community health clinics.
Last Tuesday, Polis said he and other governors had been on the phone with the White House that morning, when it announced it would be sending 27,000 additional doses to Colorado over the next three weeks, and that the governors wanted to be sure any of those federal direct programs are “subject to accountability to governors to be sure [the vaccine] doesn’t sit there and gets used right away.”
MORE: When and where can you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here are answers to your vaccine-related questions
He said that those direct federal programs, which got underway with the administration of vaccine to long-term care facilities in states like Colorado, provided governors with “some visibility” into how much vaccine is coming from the government directly to facilities, but that more was needed. He said that only about 10-15% of vaccine in Colorado was at the time coming directly though those federal programs.
As the latest direct-to-pharmacy and direct-to-community-health-centers programs roll out, the governors asked the administration in Monday’s letter to change the way by which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports vaccine distribution and administration to people, which they said currently creates “unnecessary confusion.”
The governors said that the NGA wants the CDC to distinguish how much vaccine is being sent to states for them to administer and how much is being dispersed to people in each state through the direct federal programs.
They also asked that the federal government coordinate with states in its rollouts of vaccine direct to pharmacies and other Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), saying that states are oftentimes providing doses to those same providers and they need to be sure they are not doubling up.
“We understand the capacity of the individual entities and we know the range of the individual entities throughput and their inventory,” the governors wrote. “As usual, some pharmacies and FQHCs are better suited for the task than others. Following the performance data on these entities is essential. We also know the need in the respective communities they serve and other efforts in the geographic vicinity.”
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on the letter late Monday afternoon. Polis said in a news conference earlier this month that he had been pleased so far by the administration’s increase in supply and twice-a-week deliveries but said that the direct federal programs and information on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine timeline were among the “big questions” still outstanding with respect to the administration’s efforts.
"If the federal government distributes independently of the states to these same entities without state coordination and consultation, redundancy and inefficiency may very well follow,” he and the other governors wrote in Monday's letter.
Click here to read the full story.
4 p.m. | Colorado continues to see decrease in cases, hospitalizations and positivity rate
New cases of the novel coronavirus, as well as hospitalizations for the disease and the number of tests coming back positive, continue to show a downward trend, according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
414,369 cases (+533)
22,812 hospitalized (+15)
64 counties (+0)
2,503,262 people tested (+3,268)
5,861,313 test encounters (+9,356)
5,826 deaths among cases (+2)
5,581 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
3,738 outbreaks (+3)
The latest hospital data showed 462 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 23 fewer than Sunday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 3.76% on Sunday. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Sunday, 686,231 people have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 308,294 people have received two doses.
1:30 p.m. | Grand County moves to partial Level Red restrictions
Grand County is moving to partial Level Red restrictions, amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Winter Park and Fraser.
The increased Level Red restrictions will apply only to three locations in Winter Park and Fraser, where an outbreak of cases has been identified, according to the Grand County Public Health Department. The county did not name the businesses where restrictions will be added "in an effort to maintain working relationships with those businesses," Health Director Abbie Baker said. The county said it continues to work with Winter Park Resort "to mitigate disease spread," as it has since ski season began.
"While unconventional, this approach seemed a better alternative than implementing Level Red restrictions across the entire county and/or enforcing Level Red restrictions on all restaurants in Fraser and Winter Park," Baker said. "If this approach does not result in lower transmission rates for Grand County, there will be expansion of higher restrictions. Yet, if our case rates decline more rapidly than expected, there is also an opportunity to lift restrictions more quickly."
Level Red restrictions include a limit of 25% capacity for indoor dining.
Check back soon for updates.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for Feb. 8-Feb. 14, 2021.
