COLORADO, USA — In Colorado, 591 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and seven people have died as of Sunday. Of those who tested positive for the disease, 58 have been hospitalized.
5,436 people have been tested and 29 counties are reporting cases, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
On Thursday, two deaths were announced. One was an El Paso County man in his 60s who had direct contact with the woman in her 80s who died in El Paso County last week. The second was a resident of Crowley County in southeast Colorado. The person was described as "elderly" and health officials said that person had other underlying health conditions.
Two deaths were announced on Saturday. An Eagle County man in his 60s with underlying health conditions has died due to COVID-19, the first in that county, Eagle County Government said. El Paso County also announced the third COVID-19 death in that county. The victim was a man in his 70s, and no additional information was immediately available.
A woman in her 70s is the second Weld County resident to die from COVID-19, Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) announced on Sunday.
Investigators are working on identifying anyone who has been in contact with the victim, officials said.
“As of Sunday evening, the current totals of COVID-19 positive cases in Weld County is 48,” said Mark E. Wallace, MD MPH, Executive Director of the Health Department. “We expected an increase as the state lab continues to clear a backlog of test results.”
The woman is Colorado's seventh known victim to die from COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a virus that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Most patients develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.
> NOTE: Due to the large number of new cases that continue to come in, CPDHE said on March 14 it will shift to reporting aggregate data for new cases instead of listing the details of each individual case.
- Denver: 125
- Eagle: 80
- Jefferson: 51
- Arapahoe: 45
- El Paso: 51
- Boulder: 37
- Douglas: 33
- Weld: 37
- Larimer: 32
- Gunnison: 22
- Pitkin: 16
- Adams: 18
- Summit: 7
- Garfield: 8
- Clear Creek: 3
- Pueblo: 3
- Elbert: 3
- Grand: 2
- Routt: 2
- Morgan: 2
- Chaffee: 3
- Broomfield: 1
- San Miguel: 1
- Montrose: 1
- Hinsdale: 1
- Mesa: 2
- Yuma: 1
- Crowley: 1
- Park: 1
- Unknown county: 1
Cases by age
Cases by county
Cases over time
To help prevent the spread, people should:
- Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home when they are sick.
- Cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you are feeling ill with symptoms similar to those associated with COVID-19 the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) recommends the following:
- Manage your symptoms at home the same way you manage other cold symptoms. To the extent possible, people with flu-like symptoms should remain at home.
- If you need medical care, contact your primary care provider and schedule a visit. Let them know that you are concerned you might have COVID-19.
- Only contact 911 for emergencies requiring immediate life-saving care and let them know if you are concerned you might have COVID-19.
- Restrict visits to the hospital emergency room or urgent care - only individuals needing immediate care should visit these facilities. If you must visit an ER or urgent care facility, call ahead and let them know that you are concerned you might have COVID-19.
CDC's testing guidance includes three types of people:
- Those who have symptoms such as fever OR lower respiratory symptoms (cough or shortness of breath) and have had "close contact" with a confirmed coronavirus patient within 14 days of their first symptoms.
- Those who have fever AND/OR lower respiratory symptoms, require hospitalization and have traveled to areas impacted by the epidemic in the last 14 days.
- Patients with fever and severe, acute lower respiratory symptoms who require hospitalization, and for whom no other diagnosis has been found — such as the flu. No travel or contact exposure is needed.
DDPHE said it's working with city leadership to ensure that public health and safety measures are ready to be implemented in the event of a local outbreak with community transmission.
Those measures could include limiting large gatherings and encouraging employers to allow employees to work from home whenever possible.
Members of the public with general questions can call CO HELP at 1-877-462-2911 to be connected with a local public health representative. They can also visit denvergov.org/dphe.
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