More than 560,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 32,000 have been hospitalized as of Monday 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:
Friday, July 16
4 p.m. | Hospitalizations continue at plateau as positivity rate continues to climb
Hospitalizations for suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue trending flat above the 300s Friday, but the positivity rate - the metric used to determine how much the novel coronavirus is spreading undetected in the state - continues on an upward trend. Here are the latest numbers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
565,294 cases (+608)
32,327 hospitalized (+70)
64 counties (+0)
3,220,338 people tested (+3,491)
9,257,186 test encounters (+15,598)
6,876 deaths among cases (+4)
7,107 deaths due to COVID-19 (+7)
5,544 outbreaks (+2)
The latest hospital data showed 318 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, which is no change from Wednesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 3.37%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 3,294,785 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 3,027,438 people have been fully vaccinated.
3:14 p.m. | COVID-19 free vaccine clinics on July 18 and 19 to pilot vaccine gift card program in Boulder
Two City of Boulder vaccine clinics -- on Sunday, July 18, from noon to 5 p.m. and Monday, July 19, from 2 to 7 p.m. -- have been selected by the state of Colorado to participate in a vaccine gift card incentive program.
The state will provide each person who comes to receive a first or second vaccine dose at these clinics with a $100 Walmart gift card, while supplies last. Approximately 100 gift cards will be available for each clinic day. The gift cards can be used in-store or online, without purchase restrictions, city officials said in a news release.
Clinics will be held at the Boulder Public Library Main Branch, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., in the Canyon Gallery. Those attending the clinic on Sunday should be aware of reduced parking at the library due to the Boulder Creek Festival, which is also taking place this weekend.
2:38 p.m. | Denver partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs to offer free vaccines
The City of Denver is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs to offer free vaccines for people who still haven't received any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines.
- Owen Boys & Girls Club - 3480 W. Kentucky Ave.
- Wednesday, July 21, 3-6 pm
- Broncos Boys & Girls Club - 4397 Crown Boulevard
- Thursday, July 22, 3-6 pm
- Johnson Boys & Girls Club - 3325 West 16th Dr.
- Thursday, July 29, 3-6 pm
The Montbello Barber Shop LLC is also holding a vaccination event on Thursday, July 29 from 3-7 p.m. at 4848 Chambers Road. The barber shop is offering first or second doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
No appointment is necessary.
There's a third vaccination event from the Colorado Health Network on Friday, July 30 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 6260 E. Colfax Avenue. The clinic is offering a first or second dose of the Moderna vaccine as well as the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
No appointment is necessary.
1:36 p.m. | Denver Public Central Library reopening to the public
The Denver Public Library’s Central Library will reopen to the public on Sunday, July 18, for the first time since it closed during the pandemic, a spokesperson said Friday.
Due to the construction, Central Library will open with limited first floor only access to the public. Beginning July 18, hours will be Sunday - Thursday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., and curbside holds pick-up service will be available Sunday from 1 - 5 p.m.; and Monday - Thursday, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Central Library will offer limited access to the library’s collection and Western History and Genealogy resources, along with providing computer and internet access, and information desk services. Floors two through seven are inaccessible at this time, which includes Western History and Genealogy, meeting rooms, study rooms and the ideaLAB makerspace, library officials said.
“We are excited to be able to open our doors to the community,” said central library administrator, Rachel Fewell. “Things will definitely look and feel a little different since the building is under construction, but we hope the service and access we provide can bring some sense of normalcy to our visitors and community.”
8 a.m. | CDLE release June employment numbers
According to a survey of households, Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was flat in June at 6.2%. During this same period, the national unemployment rate increased 1/10 of a percentage point to 5.9%, according to the CDLE.
Employers in Colorado added 10,800 nonfarm payroll jobs from May to June for a total of 2,719,600 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 10,500 and government added 300 jobs, according to the CDLE. Over the past 14 months, Colorado has gained back 276,400 of the 375,800 nonfarm payroll jobs lost between February and April of last year, which translates to a job recovery rate of 73.5%. This exceeds the U.S. rate of 69.8%.
The Colorado counties with the highest unemployment rates in June were:
- Huerfano: 8.8%
- Pueblo: 8.7%
- Gilpin: 7.2%
- San Miguel: 7.2%
- Fremont: 7.2%
Thursday, July 15
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Thursday, with the change from Wednesday in parentheses:
564,686 cases (+522)
32,257 hospitalized (+29)
64 counties (+0)
3,216,847 people tested (+3,226)
9,241,588 test encounters (+16,206)
6,872 deaths among cases (+3)
7,100 deaths due to COVID-19 (+4)
5,542 outbreaks (+2)
The latest hospital data showed 304 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, which is no change from Wednesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 3.20%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 3,290,682 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 3,022,771 people have been fully vaccinated.
Wednesday, July 14
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the change from Tuesday in parentheses:
564,164 cases (+522)
32,228 hospitalized (+50)
64 counties (+0)
3,213,621 people tested (+3,126)
9,225,382 test encounters (+14,043)
6,869 deaths among cases (+8)
7,096 deaths due to COVID-19 (+13)
5,540 outbreaks (+2)
The latest hospital data showed 304 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 23 fewer than Tuesday. Colorado’s seven-day average positivity rate was 3.10%. The state’s goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Wednesday, 3,286,507 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 3,017,932 people have been fully vaccinated.
Tuesday, July 13
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the change from Monday in parentheses:
563,642 cases (+556)
32,178 hospitalized (+81)
64 counties (+0)
3,210,495 people tested (+3,133)
9,211,339 test encounters (+10,159)
6,861 deaths among cases (+8)
7,083 deaths due to COVID-19 (+6)
5,538 outbreaks (+8)
The latest hospital data showed 327 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 7 more from Monday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 3.06%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 3,282,251 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 3,012,750 people have been fully vaccinated.
11:01 a.m. | Biden administration provides Colorado with $8.2 million to support rural COVID-19 response efforts
Colorado is getting more than $8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support COVID-19 response efforts in rural areas across the state.
The $8,268,032 in funding, through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) program, will go to 32 small rural hospitals in Colorado for COVID-19 testing and mitigation, important parts of the COVID response especially as the country faces new variants.
“The Biden Administration recognizes the important role that small rural hospitals have in closing the equity gap and ensuring that rural Americans can protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today’s funding will help small rural hospitals continue to serve their communities in this critical role by expanding their COVID-19 testing capacity and mitigation efforts.”
Small rural hospitals—those with fewer than 50 beds and Critical Access Hospitals—are key health care access points and trusted community resources, officials said in a news release. Hospitals will use the funds to maintain or increase COVID-19 testing, expand access to testing for rural residents, and tailor mitigation efforts to reflect the needs of local communities.
Monday, July 12
4 p.m. | State's positivity rate continues to increase as hospitalizations remain above 300
The state's positivity rate - the metric used to determine how much the novel coronavirus is spreading undetected in the state - continues to slowly increase in Colorado. At its lowest point - on June 19, 2021 - it was at 2.28%. On Sunday, that number was reported to be 2.91% - still well below the recommended 5% by federal, state and local health officials to curb the spread of the disease. Here's the latest data from the CDPHE.
563,086 cases (+323)
32,097 hospitalized (+4)
64 counties (+0)
3,207,362 people tested (+2,080)
9,201,180 test encounters (+6,464)
6,853 deaths among cases (+0)
7,077 deaths due to COVID-19 (+7)
5,530 outbreaks (+1)
The latest hospital data showed 320 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 5 more from Sunday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 2.91%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Monday, 3,278,707 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 3,008,436 people have been fully vaccinated.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for July 5-July 11, 2021.
