More than 1,185,800 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 54,800 have been hospitalized as of Sunday, 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:
Friday, January 28
6:04 p.m. | State extends, amends COVID-19 public health order
The state has extended and amended Public Health Order 20-38, which pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the amended order, individuals at unseated, public indoor events of 500+ people no longer have to show proof of vaccination in order to be admitted in Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, and Jefferson counties — as well as the City and County of Denver, and the City and County of Broomfield.
The changes take effect Friday. The order will expire at 12:01 a.m. on March 1 unless extended, rescinded, superseded or amended.
4:45 p.m. | 80% of eligible Coloradans ages 5 and up have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose
Eighty percent of eligible Coloradans ages five and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced Friday.
“We are thrilled that 80% of Colorado kids and adults over the age of five have received the doctor-approved, safe, and effective vaccine," said Governor Jared Polis. "The vaccine is delivering much needed protection and peace of mind to Colorado parents and families. We are all eager for life to get back to normal, and the safe and effective vaccine is helping us move forward."
As of Friday, 4,323,774 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,883,167 have been fully vaccinated.
“We are grateful for every Coloradan who has chosen to get vaccinated to help end the pandemic. This milestone is significant, but we must keep pressing forward. To get the greatest protection against severe illness, we need Coloradans to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine series,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, CDPHE. “The virus continues to evolve every day, but one thing that has remained a constant is that the vaccine is lifesaving. Let’s continue to do everything possible to stay ahead of it and get back to the lives we love and miss.”
The department is urging every eligible Coloradan to get vaccinated against COVID-19. To find a vaccination site near you, click here.
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
1,240,361 cases (+7,083)
56,733 hospitalized (+193)
64 counties (+0)
4,671,998 people tested (+7,232)
15,835,816 test encounters (+48,291)
11,061 deaths among cases (+56)
11,434 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
7,988 outbreaks (+21)
The latest hospital data show 1,417 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 75 fewer than Thursday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 21.04%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 4,323,774 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,883,167 have been fully vaccinated.
12:55 p.m. | CDPHE extends vaccine clinics at Ball Arena
The CDPHE announced Friday that clinics will continue offering COVID-19 vaccines in communities across the state, including the popular clinics at Ball Arena, through February. This is in partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Ball Arena is located at 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver.
The current dates for Ball Arena clinics are:
- Feb. 1: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Feb. 2: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Ghost & Volbeat concert)
- Feb. 3: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no event)
- Feb. 4: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Feb. 5: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Mammoth game)
- Feb. 6: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Feb. 7: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Monday Night RAW event)
- Feb. 8: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Feb. 9: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Bad Bunny concert)
- Feb. 10 Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Feb. 11: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Monster Jam)
- Feb. 12: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Monster Jam)
- Feb. 13: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Monster Jam)
- Feb. 14: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Feb. 15: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Feb. 16: 1-8:30 p.m. (Kacey Musgraves concert)
- Feb. 17: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CHSAA State Wrestling Championship)
- Feb. 18: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CHSAA State Wrestling Championship)
- Feb. 19: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (CHSAA State Wrestling Championship)
- Feb. 20: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Mammoth game)
- Feb. 22: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (no event)
- Feb. 23: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (no event)
- Feb. 24: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (no event)
- Feb. 25: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Feb. 26: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Feb. 27: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (no event)
- Feb. 28: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (no event)
Thursday, January 27
8:59 a.m. | Greeley-Evans school board votes to make mask wearing optional
The Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education voted to make wearing a mask optional for preschool to eighth grade beginning Feb. 7.
The motion passed by a 6-1 vote.
While masks will no longer be required, the district said it still “strongly encouraged” students and staff to wear well-fitted surgical or KN95 masks.
Masks already weren’t required for high school students and staff.
The district said COVID-19 mitigation measures will continue and the superintendent will continue to work with public health agencies on future rules and regulations.
Masks are still required on buses due to a federal mandate.
Families will still be notified when students are exposed to COVID-19 at school, however, quarantines will only occur when students who are unmasked and unvaccinated are exposed to COVID-19 during high risk activities.
5 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
1,233,278 cases (+25,206)
56,540 hospitalized (+1,028)
64 counties (+0)
4,664,766 people tested (+34,214)
15,787,525 test encounters (+172,715)
11,005 deaths among cases (+158)
11,434 deaths due to COVID-19 (+115)
7,967 outbreaks (+119)
The latest hospital data show 1,492 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 89 fewer than Wednesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 22.03%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
AsAs of Friday4,320,871 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,880,835 have been fully vaccinated.
2:10 p.m. | Hospitalizations continue trending downward following last month's omicron surge, CDPHE officials say
State health officials said Thursday the state is trending in the right direction after a surge in cases and hospitalizations last month due to the highly transmissible omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist, said Colorado is seeing a downward trajectory in key metrics - positivity rate, cases and hospitalizations - but reminded the public community transmission remains high, urging Coloradans to get their booster shots if they hadn't already done so as a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection against severe disease.
She also touched on the omicron subvariant BA.2, which the latest data shows is more than 1.5 times more transmissible than BA.1, the "original" omicron variant.
Herlihy said there's still no data on increased severity or immune evasion from BA.2, and the state has not detected a "constellation of mutations consistent with BA.2 in wastewater systems."
Scott Bookman, the COVID-19 incident commander, told reporters during the call there's still cautious optimism as they look at cases, posivity rate and hospitalizations decreasing, but said that, at this time, "there's no indication to move forward with crisis standards of care for hospitals."
He also said there are more than 680 acute care beds available and that the state is seeing improvements in the total number of beds in Colorado at this time.
So far, the state has distributed more than 2.5 million free medical grade masks across 409 distribution locations including 164 libraries, 97 fire departments, and 148 other community locations across the state.
See the full news conference in the video below:
10 a.m. | Regis University returns to on-campus classes
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations steadily decline around Denver, Regis University has decided to resume full in-person classes for students and staff who meet at the Northwest Denver, Denver Tech Center and Thornton campuses on Monday, Jan. 31.
“We are grateful for how our community pulled together to keep themselves and their neighbors safe, and went the extra mile to ensure we continued to provide the high quality, individually focused education Regis is known for," Interim President Cody Teets said. “We are better together. We are all eager for a return to normal.”
If COVID-19 trends change, Teets indicated a return to remote classes would remain an option.
Wednesday, January 26
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
1,208,072 cases (+22,205)
55,512 hospitalized (+663)
64 counties (+0)
4,630,552 people tested (+23,777)
15,614,810 test encounters (+144,369)
10,847 deaths among cases (+48)
11,319 deaths due to COVID-19 (+74)
7,848 outbreaks (+24)
The latest hospital data show 1,581 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 27 fewer than Tuesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 22.82%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
AAs of Thursday 4,317,742 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,878,313 have been fully vaccinated.
Tuesday, January 25
6:10 p.m. | Omicron subvariant detected in Denver metro area
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has detected one case of an omicron subvariant known as BA. 2, officials announced Tuesday.
The subvariant was detected using sequencing of clinical samples submitted to the state lab, according to CDPHE. The case was detected in the Denver metro area in late December.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is studying the subvariant to determine its characteristics and whether it is as contagious as the original variant.
5:09 p.m. | Closings and delays for some community testing sites Wednesday due to inclement weather
Some community testing sites for COVID-19 will be canceled or delayed following Tuesday's snowstorm in Colorado, according to the state's Joint Information Center.
Testing sites that will close Wednesday:
- La Veta Fire Protection - La veta
- Clayton Early Learning - Denver
Testing sites that will be have a delayed opening of 10 a.m.:
- All City Stadium - Denver
- Aurora Public Schools Professional Learning Office - Aurora
- Centaurus High School - Lafayette
- Colorado School of Mines - Golden
- Echo Park Stadium - Parker
- George Washington High School - Denver
- Instructional Support Facility - Aurora
- Jefferson County Fairgrounds - Golden
- Red Rocks Community College - Lakewood
- SVVSD Innovation Center - Longmont
- Clear Creek Valley Park - Arvada
- Dr. MLK Early College - Denver
- Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy - Denver
- Our Lady Mother of the Church - Commerce City
- Southwest Plaza - Littleton
- Aims College - Greeley
- SOAR Academy - Englewood
- Clear Creek - Idaho Springs
- Rocky Mountain Prep - Denver
- Fort Morgan Lincoln Street - Fort Morgan
- Riverdale Regional Park - Brighton
- Jefferson County Fairgrounds - Golden
Patients with appointments are being provided with information about rescheduling.
4:42 p.m. | Latest coronavirus data
Here's the latest COVID-19 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
1,215,931 cases (+7,859)
55,663 hospitalized (+151)
64 counties (+0)
4,637,455 people tested (+6,903)
15,658,010 test encounters (+43,200)
10,933 deaths among cases (+86)
11,365 deaths due to COVID-19 (+46)
7,879 outbreaks (+31)
The latest hospital data shows 1,608 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 36 fewer than Monday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 23.68%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 4,314,673 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,875,765 have been fully vaccinated
2 p.m. | Polis update on COVID-19
At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Jared Polis gave an update on the COVID-19 situation in Colorado and the Marshall Fire recovery.
There were 1,547 Coloradans hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday – about 1,000 of them hospitalized because of COVID-19 and the rest who were hospitalized for other reasons and tested positive upon screening, the governor said. That was a decrease of 34 from Monday.
About two-thirds of those people are not vaccinated, Polis said.
The state has distributed more than 1.7 million KN95 and medical masks during the first week of the program, Polis said.
When it comes to the state’s at-home testing program, Polis said the turnaround for receiving tests was about a week. He said once Colorado is confident the federal at-home testing program is working well, the state will roll theirs into the federal program.
Watch the full news conference in the player below.
11:40 a.m. | More than 1.7 million free medical grade masks distributed in first week of program, Polis says
More than 1.7 million free KN95 and surgical grade masks have been distributed to 386 distribution points across the state since the program opened last week, according to a spokesperson from the governor's office.
"It is so encouraging to see Coloradans personally stepping up to protect themselves with free medical grade masks. What we've consistently seen throughout this pandemic is individual Coloradans and families using fact based information to protect themselves and their families including getting vaccinated and testing when ill,” said Gov. Polis in a prepared statement.
Initially stating that these type of masks would be distributed at public libraries, fire stations, recreation centers, VFWs, YMCAs, and high traffic community centers that have agreed to be local distribution points, the state later backtracked, saying only libraries would be distributing them and that "more locations" would follow.
The masks, which will be limited to five masks per person per month.
To see the full list of sites offering these masks, click here.
Monday, January 24
5:22 p.m. | Aurora Public Library to distribute 25,000 KN95 masks over the next two days
Aurora Public Library plans to distribute 25,000 KN95 masks over the next two days.
Visitors can pick up a KN95 mask between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday at all library locations. Mask distribution will continue Wednesday, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while supplies last.
There are six Aurora Public Library locations:
- Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway
- Hoffman Heights Library, 1298 Peoria St.
- Martin Luther King Jr Library., 9898 E. Colfax Ave.
- Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E. Hampden Circle
- Iliff Square Library, 2253 S. Peoria St
- Tallyn’s Reach Library, 23911 E. Arapahoe Road.
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.
1,208,072 cases (+22,205)
55,512 hospitalized (+663)
64 counties (+0)
4,630,552 people tested (+23,777)
15,614,810 test encounters (+144,369)
10,847 deaths among cases (+48)
11,319 deaths due to COVID-19 (+74)
7,848 outbreaks (+24)
The latest hospital data show 1,644 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 7 fewer than Sunday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 24.54%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of WednesdAs of Wednesdayydayayy, 4,310,771 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado and 3,872,807 have been fully vaccinated
9:36 a.m. | Here’s how you can get free KN95s and surgical masks in Denver starting this week
If you’re looking for a better mask to help curb the spread of COVID-19 but can’t afford one right now, there are dozens of locations where you can pick some up here in the Mile High City.
City officials announced Monday Denverites will be able to pick up these higher-quality masks free of charge at any of city’s 30 recreation centers, except for La Alma (because it is currently closed), starting this Monday while supplies last.
The City of Denver has received 100,000 masks from the state after Gov. Polis announced last week they would be available to the general public. Masks will be available during regular business hours and will be limited to five masks per person per month.
Masks will not be available for pick up at any Denver library locations or fire stations, city officials said in a news release.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for Jan.17-Jan. 23, 2022.
