BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — After the number of positive COVID-19 cases started to drop in Boulder County, the health department is now seeing a reversal of the trend — and the majority of these new cases are among college-age people in the Hill neighborhood.
Boulder County Public Health said as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, 108 residents in the county have tested positive for COVID-19 since June 11.
Prior to last week, Boulder County had the second-lowest new case rate in the metro Denver area. However, as of Wednesday, the county has jumped to the third-highest increase in new cases, after Denver County and Adams County.
Most, though not all, of these cases are college-aged people in the Hill neighborhood, the health department said. Some of the infected individuals said they had recently traveled out of state and attended large gatherings in Boulder, including parties.
House parties with more than 10 people who do not live in the same household are prohibited by the statewide “Safer at Home in the Vast, Great Outdoors" public health order.
On Monday, the health department reported that a person had tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Black Lives Matter protest on University Hill at the University of Colorado Boulder on June 4.
Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director, said it’s important for residents to remember the coronavirus is still active in the community.
“Our personal actions can have social, economic, and health consequences for the entire community,” he said.
According to the health department, the greatest number of cases in the county have continued to be among the 20-29 age group. While those individuals usually have a mild case of the virus, they have described the recovery as long and painful.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may not appear until two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include:
· Fever or chills
· Cough
· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
· Fatigue
· Muscle or body aches
· Headache
· New loss of taste or smell
· Sore throat
· Congestion or runny nose
· Nausea or vomiting
· Diarrhea
The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to wear a mask in public, socially distance yourself from others, keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands often, health officials say.
Free testing is available at the drive-up site at the Pepsi Center in Denver. CU Boulder students who may have been exposed can be tested by the Boulder Medical Services by calling 303-492-5101. Residents can also get tested through their own healthcare provider or independent testing sites.