More than 542,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 30,000 have been hospitalized as of Sunday, 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:
Sunday, June 6
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Below are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, with the change from Saturday in parentheses.
546,874 cases (+374)
30,568 hospitalized (+8)
64 counties (+0)
3,092,482 people tested (+3,187)
8,711,668 test encounters (+16,076)
6,613 deaths among cases (+0)
6,770 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
5,440 outbreaks (+0)
The latest hospital data showed 449 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 11 fewer than Saturday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.59%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Sunday, 3,081,778 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,658,365 people had been fully vaccinated.
Saturday, June 5
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Below are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Saturday, with the change from Friday in parentheses.
546,500 cases (+731)
30,560 hospitalized (+40)
64 counties (+0)
3,089,295 people tested (+5,117)
8,695,592 test encounters (+25,904)
6,613 deaths among cases (+2)
6,770 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
5,440 outbreaks (+2)
The latest hospital data showed 460 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 23 fewer than Friday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.64%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Saturday, 3,061,778 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,625,296 people had been fully vaccinated.
Friday, June 4
5 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Below are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Friday, with the change from Thursday in parentheses.
545,769 cases (+767)
30,520 hospitalized (+66)
64 counties (+0)
3,084,178 people tested (+5,066)
8,669,688 test encounters (+26,756)
6,611 deaths among cases (+8)
6,770 deaths due to COVID-19 (+17)
5,438 outbreaks (+9)
The latest hospital data showed 483 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, with no change from Thursday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.66%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 3,061,778 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,625,296 people had been fully vaccinated.
2:20 p.m. | Health care data analyst from Mead named first winner of Colorado Comeback Cash $1M prize
Sally Sliger, a health care worker and clinical data analyst from Mead, was announced Friday as the first $1 million prize winner in the Colorado Comeback Cash vaccine lottery.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis brought Sliger and her husband, Chris, to the governor’s mansion to make the announcement Friday afternoon and sign over a large check for the first recipient of five $1 million prizes the state is giving away to adult Coloradans who have received at least one vaccine dose.
Sliger said she was born in Colorado and raised in Longmont, and that she and Chris have lived in Mead, in Weld County, for a little over 20 years, where they raised their sons. She works as a clinical data analyst with a Lafayette-based company.
“So, the odds of me and my family being given $1 million overnight seemed impossibly small,” Sliger said. “Even with this winning, I’m still having a hard time believing our luck of the draw.”
She said the past year, as has been the case for most people around the world, was “the most difficult year of our lives” and that she jumped at the opportunity to get vaccinated as soon as she could. Sliger got her first dose in March and her second in April, she said.
“Like all the rest of us, we’ve postponed family events, canceled events we’ve had for decades, postponed memorial services,” she said. “A year of hosting and attending Zoom birthday parties.”
She said she got vaccinated to protect herself, her family and community from COVID-19.
“That already felt like a big win to me,” she said. Some of her family members had severe cases, and she said she had dear friends who have lost family members – one of whom had to delay a memorial service for their father.
“It was just a tragic experience for everyone,” she said.
Sliger said she received a text from someone at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Wednesday while she was in a meeting. The message asked her to call back as soon as she could.
“So, I did call back right away, excused myself from that meeting. They indicated I was a potential winner as long as I met the eligibility criteria,” Sliger said. “…It was surreal. I still haven’t really quite gotten there yet.”
She said she and her husband plan to invest in their future – putting money into the retirement account, helping their sons pay off student loans, and doing some work around the house. But they’re still working on planning out what to do with their money.
“A stable future after the last year we’ve had is worth all the money in the world,” Sliger said, encouraging others to get vaccinated if they have not yet. “But, of course, it doesn’t hurt to take your chance at a million dollars as well.”
Polis said 431 Coloradans remain hospitalized from the virus as of Friday and called the virus’s prevalence “so unnecessary.”
“We have a vaccine that works. There’s simply no need for this ongoing pandemic when we have the tools to stop it and it only takes 15 or 20 minutes of your time,” the governor said.
Click here to read the full story.
Thursday, June 3
4:13 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Below are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Thursday, with the change from Wednesday in parentheses.
545,002 cases (+845)
30,454 hospitalized (+93)
64 counties (+0)
3,079,112 people tested (+4,186)
8,642,932 test encounters (+27,424)
6,603 deaths among cases (+13)
6,753 deaths due to COVID-19 (+7)
5,429 outbreaks (+3)
The latest hospital data showed 483 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 14 more than Wednesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.70%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 3,049,545 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,611,234 people had been fully vaccinated.
10:40 a.m. | Nuggets and Avalanche cleared to play to near-full-capacity crowds if they advance in playoff series
The Nuggets and Avalanche could be playing in front of crowds close to full capacity at Ball Arena if they advance to the next rounds of their respective playoff series, with some caveats.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced Thursday Ball Arena was approved to move to 18,300 fans for Round 2 of the NBA playoffs and 17,400 fans for Round 3 of the NHL playoffs should Denver’s teams advance.
People ages 3 and up will all have to wear masks when the arena moves to the increased capacity, no matter their vaccination status. Fans will also have to undergo a health assessment before they can enter, KSE said.
Currently, up to 10,500 fans are allowed at games. The increased capacities would be 90.7% of full capacity for Nuggets games and 95% of full capacity for Avalanche games. KSE said NHL and NBA safety protocols kept the arena from going to 100% capacity.
KSE says it plans to move to 100% capacity this summer after the NBA and NHL playoffs.
“We are thrilled to bring Ball Arena back to near full capacity for future Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche playoff series,” said Matt Bell, KSE’s Vice President of Venue Booking. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the partnership developed between KSE and the State of Colorado and City of Denver throughout the pandemic.”
KSE says it will release more ticket information should Denver’s teams advance to the next rounds. The Nuggets currently lead Portland 3-2 in their series and could close out the series Thursday night in Portland. The Avalanche lead their series over Vegas 2-0 after a win Wednesday night.
Click here to read the full story.
Wednesday, June 2
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Below are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the change from Tuesday in parentheses.
Note: State officials on Wednesday said 561 backlogged cases will be added to the cumulative data from previously unprocessed labs between July 2020 and November 2020. The additional cases will not impact recent incidence rates.
544,157 cases (+576)
30,361 hospitalized (+157)
64 counties (+0)
3,074,926 people tested (+13,555)
8,615,508 test encounters (+35,749)
6,590 deaths among cases (+11)
6,746 deaths due to COVID-19 (+5)
5,426 outbreaks (+18)
The latest hospital data showed 469 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 19 fewer than Tuesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.82%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Wednesday, 3,038,521 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,598,515 people had been fully vaccinated.
12:17 p.m. | Colorado to give out 25 scholarships of $50K to children ages 12-17 who get vaccinated
Colorado will give away 25 scholarships of $50,000 each over the next month to students ages 12-17 who have already gotten their first vaccine shot as extra incentive for the youngest eligible Coloradans to get vaccinated.
Gov. Jared Polis announced the “Colorado Comeback Cash Scholarship” lottery program Wednesday in a news conference alongside the state department of higher education’s executive director.
It is the second vaccine-incentive program launched by Colorado using federal dollars earmarked for vaccine promotion and advertising.
The state is also offering $1 million each to five different Coloradans ages 18 and up who have gotten at least one vaccine dose, with the first winner expected to be announced on Friday.
Polis and Dr. Angie Paccione, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, said the first five winners of the scholarships would be drawn next Monday and announced on Friday, June 11, and five more will be announced each week through Friday, July 9. Any children who get their first dose this week will be eligible for Monday's drawing, they said.
The scholarship money will go into a Colorado CollegeInvest 529 college savings account and can be put toward education expenses and tuition at occupational and trade schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities both in and out of state, Polis and Paccione said.
“This scholarship sends a clear message to our state that we need you for our Colorado comeback,” Paccione said, adding that the $50,000 scholarship amounts “still boggles my mind.”
Polis urged parents of children ages 12-17 to not put off getting their students vaccinated.
“We want them to be protected this summer and want them to have a chance to win,” he said.
Like the lottery program for vaccinated adults, children in the 12-17 age group who get their first Pfizer vaccine – the only available for that age group currently – would be automatically entered into the drawing because their vaccine record should be submitted to the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).
Polis said about 25% of eligible 12 to 17-year-olds had already received one vaccine dose. Among all eligible age groups, about 2.9 million Coloradans have received at least one dose.
Click here to read the full story.
Tuesday, June 1
4:42 p.m. | Denver's latest public health order lifts restrictions for large outdoor venues
The city of Denver updated its COVID public health order Tuesday after the state made changes Monday, clearing the way for the Rockies and Broncos to have full capacities at their stadiums this season.
Denver’s latest public health order lifts all capacity limits, distancing requirements and other restrictions for large outdoor venues, which includes Empower Field at Mile High, Coors Field and Red Rocks.
The latest iteration still requires indoor events with 2,000 or more people to get approval from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
The city did not immediately respond to a request for information on whether larger indoor venues, like Ball Arena, would be expanding to full capacity soon. Currently, the arena is cleared to have 10,500 fans – about 57% of the venue’s capacity – in person at Avalanche and Nuggets games.
The latest public health order also allows the Rockies to bring in full crowds to their games, clearing the way for a full-capacity All-Star Game in July. The capacity at Coors Field was increased to 35,000 people as of Tuesday before the latest update to the public health order.
Red Rocks announced two weeks ago that it would move to full capacity starting June 21.
Click here to read the full story.
4:20 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the change from Monday in parentheses:
543,581 cases (+407)
30,204 hospitalized (+6)
64 counties (+0)
3,061,371 (+2,249)
8,579,759 (+6,543)
6,579 deaths among cases (-1)
6,741 deaths due to COVID-19 (+23)
5,408 outbreaks (+ 2)
The latest hospital data showed 488 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 18 fewer than Monday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.80%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 3,027,195 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,586,193 people had been fully vaccinated.
Monday, May 31
4:20 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Monday, with the change from Sunday in parentheses:
543,174 cases (+285)
30,198 hospitalized (+20)
64 counties (+0)
3,059,122 people tested (+2,373)
8,573,216 test encounters (+9,361)
6,580 deaths among cases (+0)
6,718 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
5,406 outbreaks (+0)
The latest hospital data showed 506 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 11 fewer than Sunday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate is 2.81%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Monday, 3,022,501 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, and 2,581,586 people had been fully vaccinated.
4:15 p.m. | Colorado updates public health order for residential care facilities
The state on Monday updated its public health order and guidance for residential care facilities that modifies mitigation requirements for residential care facilities serving older adults and people with disabilities.
The public health order follows updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control allowing fully vaccinated people to go without a mask in most places. In addition, vaccinated staff and residents will no longer have to undergo weekly testing for monitoring. Facilities in outbreak status still have to adhere to the previous state and federal mitigation measures. See the guidance crosswalk for a breakdown of state and federal mitigation guidelines.
“We want our residents and staff members at residential care facilities in Colorado to know there are clear benefits to vaccination,” said Randy Kuykendall, Director, Health Facilities and EMS Division, CDPHE. “These at-risk communities have been on the front-line of mitigating COVID-19 throughout the pandemic and while we aren’t quite out of it yet, making sensible, data-based decisions in regards to infection prevention and socialization will continue to help us finish strong and power the comeback.”
To ensure easy access to vaccines, residential care facilities will now be required to submit an ongoing vaccination plan that outlines role responsibilities, vaccine provider information, and educational opportunities. The changes are a part of the state’s plan to encourage ongoing vaccination in residential facilities so residents can have meaningful interactions while continuing to prevent COVID-19 case and community spread.
Residential care pharmacies or facilities that would like to become COVID-19 vaccine providers should notify the CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team at residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us. Pharmacy assistance is available through cdphe_covidvax@state.co.us. Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov/ltcf.
12:15 p.m. | State updates public health order
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has released an amended public health order that provides updated requirements for individuals and businesses to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado.
The new changes are effective Tuesday, June 1 and are expected expire at 12:01 a.m. on July 1.
The updates include:
- Modified face covering requirements, including changing the face covering requirements to start at age 12 (reflecting the state’s vaccine-eligible population), revised face covering requirements to only apply to unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated individuals, changes to the exemption age for face coverings to individuals age 11 and younger
- Removed restrictions for large indoor gatherings
- Removed all references to the face covering Executive Order because it expires
Schools and camps must still follow outbreak guidance and coordinate their responses with local public health agencies, the CDPHE said.
Hospital reporting requirements remain in place.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for May 24-May 30, 2021.
