More than 678,000 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 38,000 have been hospitalized as of Monday, 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, Oct. 8
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado.
688,465 cases (+2,911)
39,450 hospitalized (+108)
64 counties (+0)
3,763,360 people tested (+8,930)
11,385,722 test encounters (+37,710)
7,733 deaths among cases (+40)
7,996 deaths due to COVID-19 (+21)
6,228 outbreaks (+16)
The latest hospital data showed 979 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 11 fewer than Thursday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 7.22%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 3,803,043 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, and 3,491,915 people have been fully vaccinated.
1:55 p.m. | Jefferson County Board of Health votes to reinstate masks in government buildings
During a Thursday Board of Health meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Health voted to approve a new public health order which requires that all individuals ages 2 and older wear a mask in all indoor spaces at all county and municipal government buildings.
Additionally, the Board directed Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) to prepare a draft Public Health Order which if approved would require all county and municipal government workers to get tested for COVID-19 weekly or submit proof of full vaccination in order to report to work in person.
“In service to our Jeffco community and continued commitment to promoting health and preventing disease for our residents, it’s important that we take steps to protect both local government workers and residents who rely on us for services by ensuring doing business with us is a low-risk activity,” said Greg Deranleau, President of the Board of Health. “Universal masking in county and municipal buildings is one easy, safe and effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we look forward to discussing further evidence-based strategies, including routine testing, next week.”
12:10 p.m. | CDPHE officials concerned over increase in positivity rate, upward trend in hospitalizations
State health officials on Friday said they were concerned about an increase in the state's positivity rate as well as an upward trend in hospitalizations across Colorado, even as cases and hospitalizations across the country see a decline.
"It is concerning to me that we have seen a rise in the positivity rate in the last week or so," state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said during opening remarks, adding it'll be hard to predict what will happen as more people move indoors due to the arrival of colder weather as winter approaches.
Currently, the state is reporting the highest case rates of COVID-19 among kids aged 6-11, with those aged 12-17 coming in second. Children 0-5 come in last, according to state data.
She said most of the Front Range was seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases but pockets like the San Luis Valley and the Eastern Plains were seeing a resurgence, pointing to the variability of how the virus spreads across several regions.
"We are starting to see our hospitalizations trend back up and in the wrong direction," said Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment COVID-19 Incident Commander Scott Bookman, who added hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been hovering in the 900s for the past several days.
Bookman reiterated that unvaccinated people continue to drive hospitalization rates in the state, stating that people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine are eight times less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19.
Colorado's 7-day average positivity rate stands at 7.22%, more than 2% above what is recommended to curb the spread of COVID-19.
9:40 a.m. | CDPHE terminates Dr. Moma Health & Wellness Clinic from participation in CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination program
The CDPHE completed its investigation into the Dr. Moma Health & Wellness Clinic. The CDPHE suspended administration and distribution of all COVID-19 vaccines at the site in April as a result of potential irregularities in vaccine storage and handling.
Based on a review of the information, CDPHE has officially terminated the Dr. Moma Health & Wellness Clinic from any further participation in CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program effective today.
The CDPHE determined that clinic had violated the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement by:
- Failing to store and handle COVID-19 vaccines under proper conditions
- Failing to monitor storage unit temperatures at all times by using equipment and practices that comply with guidance in the CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit
- Failing to comply with CDPHE guidance for handling temperature excursions
- Failing to comply with requirements for safe immunization services practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, including not observing social distancing requirements or masking requirements within all areas of the clinic
- Failing to comply with the billing requirements outlined in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Agreement
In April, CDPHE released multiple recommendations for patients who were vaccinated at a Dr. Moma vaccination clinic. A full list of vaccine providers can be found here.
Thursday, Oct. 7
4:55 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado.
685,554 cases (+2,781)
39,342 hospitalized (+128)
64 counties (+0)
3,754,430 people tested (+8,530)
11,348,012 test encounters (+44,004)
7,693 deaths among cases (+28)
7,975 deaths due to COVID-19 (+18)
6,212 outbreaks (+11)
The latest hospital data showed 990 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 28 fewer than Wednesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 6.90%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Thursday, 3,801,605 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, and 3,489,844 people have been fully vaccinated.
Wednesday, Oct. 6
11:11 p.m. | FEMA approves more than $1 billion for pandemic response in Colorado
FEMA approved more than $1.6 billion in total assistance for Colorado for COVID-19 assistance over the last 18 months as of Oct. 1.
Under new guidelines from the Biden Administration, FEMA increased reimbursement from 75% to 100% for pandemic response retroactive to Jan. 20, 2020.
The money has gone to vaccine programs, testing sites, medical staffing and supplies, other staffing Lost Wages Assistance, crisis counseling and funeral assistance for families, among other things.
4:34 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado.
682,773 cases (+1,838)
39,214 hospitalized (+258)
64 counties (+0)
3,745,900 people tested (+4,897)
11,304,008 test encounters (+20,736)
7,665 deaths among cases (+22)
7,957 deaths due to COVID-19 (+11)
6,201 outbreaks (+28)
The latest hospital data showed 1,018 beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, 36 more than Tuesday. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 6.95%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Wednesday, 3,796,515 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, and 3,484,391 people have been fully vaccinated.
1:50 p.m. | Gov. Polis update on COVID-19 in Colorado
In a news conference Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis said there were 922 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state — the highest number of hospitalizations since January.
Of those hospitalized, 710 are not vaccinated and 212 are vaccinated. Polis estimated that if all eligible Coloradans were fully vaccinated (77% of eligible people have received at least one dose as of Tuesday) that there would be only about 265 people hospitalized because of the virus because of the efficacy of the vaccines in preventing hospitalizations and more severe cases.
He said the state was down to 149 ICU beds at this point because of COVID-19 and other conditions and said in contrast, there are zero Coloradans hospitalized with any vaccine side effects.
Polis said 4.8% of eligible Coloradans have now received a COVID-19 booster shot – including Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, who received her Pfizer booster on Tuesday. She said she was feeling fine other than being somewhat lethargic.
Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Rico Munn said 96% of licensed APS employees are now fully vaccinated ahead of Thursday’s deadline, and he expects that number to be higher once the deadline is reached.
Watch the full news conference in the player below:
Tuesday, Oct. 5
8:39 p.m. | 98% of Kaiser Permanente staff vaccinated, qualified for exemption
Kaiser Permanente said it's made "remarkable progress" increasing the number of staff vaccinated for COVID-19, but approximately 2% of their staff have been placed on unpaid administrative leave after not meeting the Sept. 30 vaccination deadline.
The health care group announced a vaccine requirement for all employees and physicians on Aug. 2. At the time, their vaccination rate was 78%.
Since the requirement was put in place, more than 92% of Kaiser Permanente employees have been vaccinated. Ninety-eight percent of their staff have either been vaccinated or have submitted a qualifying exemption, and the health care group said the number is growing every day.
As of Oct. 4, just over 2,200 employees across the country have not responded to the vaccine requirement and were placed on unpaid administrative leave. As employees respond, they may return to work.
Employees have until Dec. 1 to respond to the vaccine requirement to be able to return to work.
"We hope none of our employees will choose to leave their jobs rather than be vaccinated, but we won’t know with certainty until then," a statement from Kaiser Permanent says. "We will continue to work with this group of employees to allay concerns and educate them about the vaccines, their benefits and risks."
4:16 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado.
680,935 cases (+2,280)
38,956 hospitalized (+78)
64 counties (+0)
3,741,003 people tested (+5,962)
11,283,272 test encounters (+27,730)
7,643 deaths among cases (+17)
7,946 deaths due to COVID-19 (+24)
6,173 outbreaks (+13)
The latest hospital data showed 982 beds in use. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 6.76%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Tuesday, 3,793,657 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, and 3,481,392 people have been fully vaccinated.
Monday, Oct. 4
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers for Colorado. A reminder that today's state data is an aggregate from the weekend as well as Monday's.
678,655 cases (+5,138)
38,778 hospitalized (+126)
64 counties (+0)
3,735,041 people tested (+18,266)
11,255,542 test encounters (+84,263)
7,626 deaths among cases (+32)
7,922 deaths due to COVID-19 (+35)
6,160 outbreaks (+7)
The latest hospital data showed 941 beds in use. Colorado's seven-day average positivity rate was 6.84%. The state's goal is to remain below 5%.
As of Monday, 3,790,965 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Colorado, and 3,478,271 people have been fully vaccinated.
Click here for the COVID-19 live blog for April 12-April 18, 2021.
