More than 826,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 46,700 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, December 3
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here's the latest COVID-19 data for Colorado from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
838,587 cases (+2,820)
47,604 hospitalized (+49)
64 counties (+0)
4,136,502 people tested (+5,751)
13,232,327 test encounters (+27,966)
9,344 deaths among cases (+7)
9,582 deaths due to COVID-19 (+19)
6,949 outbreaks (+12)
The latest hospital data showed 1,432 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 51 fewer than Thursday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 9.25%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As ofFriday, 4,087,622 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, 3,665,210 people have been fully vaccinated.
3:04 p.m. | CDPHE announces 15 COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Ball Arena in December
Colorado’s statewide COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues with clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines in communities across the state, including the announcement of 15 vaccine clinics at Ball Arena in December in partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
The Ball Arena clinics will begin operating Dec. 4 and 5 and run throughout the month, frequently coinciding with popular family events, including Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games. This weekend’s first Ball Arena clinics will operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 and from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Dec. 5.
The current confirmed dates for Ball Arena clinics are:
- Dec. 4: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (family ice skating show)
- Dec. 5: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (family ice skating show)
- Dec. 6: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no event)
- Dec. 7: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (no event)
- Dec. 10: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Dec. 11: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Mammoth game)
- Dec. 12: Noon - 7:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Dec. 13: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Dec. 14: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Dec. 15: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Dec. 18: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Dec. 23: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Dec. 29: 1-9:30 p.m. (Avalanche game)
- Dec. 30: Noon - 8:30 p.m. (Nuggets game)
- Dec. 31: 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Mammoth game)
Visit the COVID vaccine bus in the Ball Arena parking lot just north of Chopper Circle and 9th Street.
2:33 p.m. | Second Colorado omicron case confirmed in Boulder County
The second confirmed COVID-19 omicron variant case has been confirmed in a person in Boulder County who recently traveled to South Africa, officials said.
Boulder County Public Health said a health care provider contacted the department about a positive test in a person who had recently come back from the country where the new variant is believed to have originated.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was brought in to sequence the virus sample and confirmed Friday it was the omicron variant. BCPH said the person is in isolation and that their close contacts are being notified.
“Because the omicron variant is new, we are still gathering information about whether it is more contagious and whether it will cause people to have more severe disease. However, what little we do know would indicate there is still some protection from vaccines, and that masking and other mitigation strategies are still highly effective,” said BCPH Chief Medical Officer Michelle Haas.
Both BCPH and the CDPHE are recommending anyone who recently traveled internationally get tested within 3-5 days of their return from abroad.
The state’s first case of the variant was identified Thursday in a woman from Arapahoe County who recently traveled to southern Africa.
Thursday, December 2
4:45 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here's the latest COVID-19 data for Colorado from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
835,767 cases (+3,142)
47,555 hospitalized (+66)
64 counties (+0)
4,130,751 people tested (+6,510)
13,204,361 test encounters (+35,616)
9,337 deaths among cases (+61)
9,563 deaths due to COVID-19 (+42)
6,937 outbreaks (+11)
The latest hospital data showed 1,483 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 21 fewer than Wednesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 9.29%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 4,082,262 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, 3,659,368 people have been fully vaccinated.
1:30 p.m. | Colorado finds omicron variant in Arapahoe Co. woman who recently traveled to Africa
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Thursday it had confirmed the state’s first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in an Arapahoe County woman who recently traveled to southern Africa.
The CDPHE said the woman was fully vaccinated but had not yet received a booster dose. She is experiencing minor symptoms, according to the department. The variant was identified through sequencing Thursday morning, officials said.
The Colorado State Public Health Laboratory sequenced the specimen and found the variant was present. Colorado is the third state to identify the omicron variant is present. Other cases were confirmed in California and Minnesota.
The CDPHE said the Tri-County Health Department investigated the woman’s positive test, and CDPHE epidemiologists followed up to sequence the specimen’s genome because of the woman’s travel history.
The CDPHE says the woman’s close contacts in Colorado have tested negative and the woman is in isolation. The CDPHE is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the case investigation. Polis said the woman had used a mask while traveling.
Herlihy said the woman returned to COlorado late last week and was not symptomatic at the time she traveled through Denver International Airport. Herlihy said the woman tested positive a day after she arrived — around the same time she developed symptoms. She had traveled to multiple countries in southern Africa.
The CDPHE said the woman’s specimen had the S gene target failure that is a signature of the new omicron variant, which was first detected in November in South Africa.
Colorado public health officials said earlier this week they were using diagnostic testing, clinical sequencing and wastewater sequencing surveillance to look for the omicron variant in our state. Colorado was also the first state in the nation to find the alpha variant of the virus last year.
Polis said officials had not yet found the omicron variant in the wastewater testing. The state screens about 15% of positive cases for sequencing for variants.
Polis said the omicron could potentially be more transmissible than the delta variant but that officials were still awaiting more data. He said it appears vaccines can still protect against the most severe outcomes from the new variant.
“There is still a lot to learn about the omicron variant, but due to some of the mutations on the spike protein of the virus, it is possible that omicron might be more transmissible or immune response may not be as effective,” the CDPHE said in a news release.
Click here to read the full story.
Wednesday, December 1
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here's the latest COVID-19 data for Colorado from the state department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
832,625 cases (+3,188)
47,489 hospitalized (+637)
64 counties (+0)
4,124,241 people tested (+6,494)
13,168,745 test encounters (+30,859)
9,276 deaths among cases (+83)
9,521 deaths due to COVID-19 (+48)
6,926 outbreaks (+25)
The latest hospital data showed 1,504 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 37 fewer than Tuesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 9.15%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 4,076,884 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, 3,653,187 people have been fully vaccinated.
Tuesday, November 30
5:02 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here's the latest COVID-19 data for Colorado.
829,437 cases (+2,622)
46,852 hospitalized (+100)
64 counties (+0)
4,117,747 people tested (+5,130)
13,137,886 test encounters (+24,075)
9,193 deaths among cases (+42)
9,473 deaths due to COVID-19 (+31)
6,901 outbreaks (+17)
The latest hospital data showed 1,541 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 21 more than Monday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 9.06%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 4,070,847 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, 3,647,017 people have been fully vaccinated.
4:58 p.m. | CDPHE: State using multiple techniques to monitor for the omicron variant
In a press conference Tuesday, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials said the state is on the lookout for the omicron variant.
As of Tuesday, the omicron variant has not been detected in Colorado or the United States. However, officials say they are prepared and will detect the variant once it makes its way to the Centennial State.
Dr. Emily Travanty, a state lab director, says the state is using three different strategies to look for the omicron variant - diagnostic testing, clinical sequencing and wastewater sequencing surveillance.
Diagnostic testing
Many COVID-19 tests in Colorado, including those used at the state lab and at a majority of community testing sites, are performed using the ThermoFisher TaqPath Combo test. The state has prioritized these tests for sequencing at the state lab.
Clinical sequencing
The genetic makeup of a virus is constantly changing, and COVID-19 is no exception.
Each variant has a different genetic sequence. For example, the alpha variant of COVID-19 has a different sequence compared to the delta variant of COVID-19.
The state has updated its procedures in order to identify the omicron variant and its specific genetic sequence in patient samples.
Wastewater sequencing surveillance
Officials are turning to wastewater in order to monitor for the omicron variant.
Rachel Jervis, an epidemiologist and speaker during Tuesday's press conference, said almost 50% of people with COVID-19 will shed some virus in their stool, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. Scientists are then able to test for COVID-19 and variants within wastewater.
By testing wastewater, officials are able to see what is spreading within an entire community compared to diagnostic testing, which looks at what a specific individual is infected with.
Through the state's voluntary program, wastewater utilities submit two samples per week. Those samples are then tested for COVID-19 and genetic markers of variants.
So far, there are 21 participants in the program.
Read the rest of the story here.
Monday, November 29
5:51 p.m. | More than 20% of Colorado children ages 5 to 11 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
More than 20% of Colorado children ages five to 11 have received at least one dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, the Polis administration announced Monday.
“It’s great to see so many of Colorado’s kids and parents making a common-sense decision to protect themselves against this dangerous virus by getting the safe and effective vaccine and leading other western states in the process," said Governor Polis. "We need more Coloradans to follow the example set by our young people who are doing their part to help put this pandemic behind us and protect their health so we can get back to enjoying the Colorado we love."
As of Monday morning, 98,848 children, roughly 20.6% of the estimated 5-11 population in Colorado, have received at least one dose of the two-dose pediatric Pfizer vaccine. Additionally, 5,617 children have received their second dose.
Last week, the state expanded three community sites to provide additional vaccines and boosters.
There are several vaccination events happening this week. For details, click here.
4 p.m. | Latest coronavirus numbers
Here's the latest COVID-19 data for Colorado. A reminder that today's state data is an aggregate from the weekend as well as Monday's.
826,815 cases (+4,956)
46,752 hospitalized (+143)
64 counties (+0)
4,112,617 people tested (+16,798)
13,113,811 test encounters (+92,215)
9,151 deaths among cases (+51)
9,442 deaths due to COVID-19 (+51)
6,884 outbreaks (+5)
The latest hospital data showed 1,520 beds in use by patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 49 fewer than Sunday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 9.00%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Friday, 4,066,619 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, 3,641,889 people have been fully vaccinated.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for Nov. 22-28, 2021.
