More than 49,000 cases of the coronavirus have been detected since the pandemic was officially reported in Colorado on March 5.
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, Aug. 9
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado
Here was the latest coronavirus data for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, with the change from Saturday in parentheses.
50,660 cases (+336)
6,616 hospitalized (+14)
63 counties (+0)
588,547 tested (+5,908)
801,739 test encounters (+10,717)
1,858 deaths among cases (+1)
1,736 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
513 outbreaks (+0)
The latest hospital data shows 337 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, with 17 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 64% of state hospitals reporting. Saturday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 2.84%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Saturday, Aug. 8
Click here for the link to the weekly coronavirus blog for Aug. 10-16, 2020.
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers for Colorado
Here was the latest coronavirus data for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Saturday, with the change from Friday in parentheses.
50,324 cases (+431)
6,602 hospitalized (+20)
63 counties (+0)
582,639 tested (+6,745)
779,670 test encounters (+11,352)
1,857 deaths among cases (+0)
1,736 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
513 outbreaks (-1)
The latest hospital data for Saturday was not available as of 4 p.m. Friday's 3-day moving average positivity rate was 2.98%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Friday, Aug. 7
4 p.m. | State's 3-day moving average positivity rate for COVID-19 sees biggest drop since June 15
Colorado's 3-day moving average positivity rate, which highlights the percentage of tests that come back positive out of all the tests performed, was the lowest its been since June 15, when the positivity rate was at 2.31%. Friday's positivity rate was at 2.81% - a good thing, as the state looks to remain below a 5% positivity rate per CDC guildelines. These are the latest figures from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Please note: The (+) denotes a change in cases from the previous day.
49,893 cases (+457)
6,582 hospitalized (+10)
63 counties (+0)
575,894 tested (+7,767)
779,670 test encounters (+13,197)
1,857 deaths among cases (+5)
1,736 deaths due to COVID-19 (+7)
514 outbreaks (+5)
The latest hospital data shows 317 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 3 fewer than Thursday, with 19 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 87% of state hospitals reporting. Wednesday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 2.81%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado.
Thursday, Aug. 6
7:02 p.m. | Denver to inject another $25.6 million in CARES Act funds as part of coronavirus relief response
Denver will inject another $25.6 million in federal CARES Act funds into the local economy to help people, small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
This second round of federal funds will help in areas such as public health and safety, food support, grant programs for impacted nonprofits and small businesses, childcare support, the Left Behind Workers Fund, housing assistance and shelters, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Finance said in a news release.
5:24 p.m. | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference moves most fall sports to the spring
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) has moved all fall sports to the springs — except for cross country — to comply with the recent NCAA Board of Governor's mandate canceling all fall championships to help mitigate the further spread of the novel coronavirus.
Some of the schools that are part of the RMAC are: Adams St, Colorado Christian, Colorado Mesa, Colorado School of the Mines, CSU-Pueblo, MSU, Fort Lewis, Regis, UCCS, Western Colorado, and Westminster College
You can read more on their decision here.
4 p.m. | Twelve more people die from coronavirus from Wednesday into Thursday
Twelve more people died of the novel coronavirus from Wednesday into Thursday as the number of cases surpassed 49,000, according to the latest numbers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
49,436 cases (+448)
6,572 hospitalized (+36)
63 counties (+0)
568,127 tested (+6,041)
766,473 test encounters (+11,829)
1,852 deaths among cases (+1)
1,729 deaths due to COVID-19 (+12)
509 outbreaks (+7)
The latest hospital data shows 320 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 15 fewer than Wednesday, with 22 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 88% of state hospitals reporting. Wednesday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 4.82%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado.
8:00 a.m. | CDLE releases Colorado unemployment numbers
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported that 7,138 regular initial unemployment claims were filed the week ending Aug. 1. There were also 7,585 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims filed for the same week. Since mid-March, a total of 517,203 regular unemployment initial claims have been filed and a grand total of 679,255 claims, including federal PUA benefits.
For the week ending July 25, a combined total of 310,912 continued claims were filed, including 223,097 from regular UI, 74,905 from PUA, and 12,910 from Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
6:40 a.m. | U.S. unemployment numbers
Nearly 1.2 million laid-off Americans applied for state unemployment benefits last week, evidence that the coronavirus keeps forcing companies to slash jobs just as a critical $600 weekly federal jobless payment has expired.
Wednesday, Aug. 5
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers from Colorado
Nearly 49,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday, according to the latest figures from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Please note: The (+) indicates a change from the previous day.
48,988 cases (+594)
6,536 hospitalized (+20)
63 counties (+0)
562,086 tested (+9,881)
754,644 test encounters (+27,618)
1,851 deaths among cases (+2)
1,717 deaths due to COVID-19 (+7)
502 outbreaks (+14)
The latest hospital data shows 335 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 5 fewer than Tuesday, with 25 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 82% of state hospitals reporting. Tuesday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 4.49%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
6:08 p.m. | Kids in northern Colorado also starting the school year remotely
Kids in northern Colorado are joining their peers across much of the Front Range by learning remotely when the 2020-2021 school year begins on Aug. 24.
The Poudre School District announced the change in a letter to district staff and families Tuesday, saying they would be scrapping previous plans to begin the year in a staggered approach and will instead begin classes remotely for all its students.
“Schools will be closed to in-person education through at least the end of first quarter, Friday, Oct. 16,” Superintendent Sandra Smyser wrote in the letter. “We will re-evaluate public health conditions between now and then and determine whether we can responsibly open schools or if we will need to continue remote education.”
5:25 p.m. | DPS modifying bus services for 2020-21
Denver Public Schools said Tuesday that because of health and distancing guidelines, buses will only be able to operate at 33% capacity this year.
The district says it will prioritize bus transportation for younger students and those with the most need for bus transportation, along with those who are legally entitled to the transportation, like special needs students and students experiencing homelessness.
High school students who are eligible will still be able to use a DPS-RTD bus pass.
Elementary school bell times will be standardized across the district for 6 ½ hour school days.
The district says it is still finalizing details regarding the elementary school start and end times.
A list of schools that will continue to receive bus services can be found here. Click here to check on a student’s eligibility for bus transportation.
5 p.m. | CHSAA moving contact sports to new year, creating 4 seasons and shortened schedules for 2020-21
High school athletics will be split into four seasons and sports teams’ schedules will be shortened under the calendar for the year released Tuesday by the Colorado High School Activities Association.
Contact sports, including football, girls volleyball and others, have been moved to later in the year, while boys golf, softball, boys tennis and cross country will all take place this fall as originally scheduled – the “A” season.
There will be a nearly three-month moratorium on high school athletics and activities from Oct. 18 to Jan. 3, as CHSAA said that the state is predicting “a likely resurgence of COVID-19 cases in late fall.”
“Season B” includes basketball, ice hockey, skiing, spirit, girls swimming and wrestling, and will start Jan. 4 and run to March 6.
“Season C” will start March 1 and finish by May 1, CHSAA said, and will include football, field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, unified bowling and girls volleyball.
CHSAA says that football practices will begin Feb. 22 and conclude on May 8 “due to the specific equipment and safety rules.”
“Season D” will include baseball, girls golf, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, girls tennis, boys swimming, track and field, and boys volleyball. Practices for those sports would begin April 26 and the seasons would conclude by June 26.
Most of the seasons for each respective sports have been shortened as well to accommodate for the tighter schedule.
Click here to read the full story.
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 data
Here was the latest coronavirus data for Colorado, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the change from Monday in parentheses.
48,394 cases (+426)
6,516 hospitalized (+29)
63 counties (+0)
552,205 tested (+3,397)
727,026 test encounters (+5,105)
1,849 deaths among cases (+5)
1,710 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
488 outbreaks (+5)
The latest hospital data shows 340 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, with 31 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 88% of state hospitals reporting. Monday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 4.34%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Go here for more case data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Te
3:15 p.m. | Polis: Prepare to live as we have done so over the past several weeks "for the next few months"
During Tuesday's coronavirus briefing, Gov. Jared Polis continued to urge Coloradans to avoid large gatherings and wear masks, adding Coloradans should be prepared to live as we have done so over the past several weeks "for the next few months."
He also said he's increasing his outreach for Latino communities, who the CDC says are twice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than their white peers. One of the ways in which he's doing so is by participating in a 30-minute COVID-19 town hall in Spanish on Univision, the second largest TV network delivering Spanish-language content in the United States.
You can watch the full news conference below:
11:25 a.m. | St. Vrain Valley Schools to begin year with 100% online learning through at least last week of September
St. Vrain Valley School District students and educators will start the year with 100% online learning through at least the last week of September, the district announced Tuesday morning.
Students in grades 1-12 will start school on Aug. 18, while kindergarteners will begin on Aug. 20.
The school district had been set to begin class with a hybrid model before Tuesday’s announcement. Now, the district says that all students will be using online learning through the last week of September.
During that final week of next month, the district says it will re-evaluate the number of COVID-19 cases, positivity rates and other data to determine the next steps.
“This will be done in partnership with our local and state health agency partners, and either implement the hybrid learning plan that we outlined earlier this month or continue with our online-learning model,” the district said.
The SVVSD said that it has been in communication with Boulder County Public Health leaders and that it “received additional information that has a significant impact on our plans for reopening our schools.”
Superintendent Don Haddad said that the district plans to phase in its hybrid model, with 50% in-person learning, “as soon as we believe it is safe and feasible to do so.”
Click here to read the full story.
11:15 a.m | Polis to provide update on status of COVID-19 in Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis will update Coloradans on the status of COVID-19 in Colorado today at 3:15 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3
4:02 p.m. | Citations issued, businesses shut down for violating public health order
Twenty businesses across Denver were cited over the weekend for violating the city's public health order as the city deals with an increase in coronavirus infections this summer, and five businesses were shut down after previously being warned they had to follow the citywide mandate.
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), along with deputies from the Denver Sheriff Department, teamed up to increase the enforcement of the public health order, according to a news release.
In all, 20 tickets were issued after officials noticed customers and staff not wearing face coverings, no proper practicing of social distancing, the lack of posting for required signage, maximum crowd capacities being exceeded, and the serving alcohol after 10 p.m.
The five businesses that were closed were: Welcome Inn at 3659 Chestnut Pl.; Your Mom’s House at 608 E. 13th Ave.; PT’s Show Club at 1601 W. Evans Ave.; PT’s Show Club at 3480 S. Galena St.; and Zanzibar at 2046 Larimer St.
Since May, city officials have issued 50 citations, mostly for face covering violations, according to a news release.
Those fined for violating the public health order are subject to a $999 fine per violation and up to 300 days in jail.
4 p.m. | Latest COVID-19 numbers from Colorado
Nearly 48,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus since the outbreak first began in March 5 in the state. Nineteen more people died from Sunday into Monday due to the new respiratory disease. Please note: The (+) denotes the change from the previous day.
47,968 cases (+252)
6,487 hospitalized (+13)
63 counties (+0)
548,808 people tested (+4,785)
721,921 test encounters (+7,361)
1,844 deaths among cases (+0)
1,710 deaths due to COVID-19 (+19)
483 outbreaks (+2)
The latest hospital data shows 308 hospital beds in use by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients – 39 fewer from Sunday, with 34 patients discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours and 80% of state hospitals reporting. Sunday’s 3-day moving average positivity rate was 3.37%. The state’s target is to remain below 5%.
Click here to explore the latest COVID-19 case data for Colorado.
12:24 p.m. | Denver small businesses, nonprofits can apply for free PPE kit containing hand sanitizer, masks, more
Small businesses and nonprofits that have 25 or fewer employees can start signing up Monday to receive a free kit from the city of Denver that includes hand sanitizer, disinfectant, surgical masks and face shields to protect employees against the novel coronavirus.
Denver businesses or nonprofits that match the criteria can click here to register. The city says that in addition to having 25 or fewer employees, a business or nonprofit must have been operating before March 1 in order to register for the free personal protective equipment.
The city says it has more than 4,000 kits containing one 64 oz. container of hand sanitizer, 40 one-ounce containers of hand sanitizer, one gallon of disinfectant, 100 surgical masks, one non-contact thermometer and 10 face shields.
Click here to read the full story.
Click here for the COVID-19 blog from July 27-Aug. 2, 2020.
