This post will continue to be updated throughout the day.
---Number of COVID-19 Cases In Colorado Rises To Nearly 8,000---
Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows nearly 8,000 known positive cases of COVID-19 in the state. These numbers include both positive tests and people who have been in contact with someone who tested positive and are showing signs of the virus.
Over 1,500 people have been hospitalized and 329 people have died. There are 78 known outbreaks in residential and non-hospital healthcare facilities. Over 39,500 people have been tested according to the state, but not all negative tests may be represented in that number. Data is complete through April 13.
In Southern and Southeastern Colorado counties, known cases of COVID-19 are the following:
- El Paso – 652 (+11 from the day before)
- Douglas – 304 (+6)
- Pueblo – 66* (+2)
- Chaffee – 57*
- Elbert – 17 (+1)
- Teller – 16
- Baca – 10
- Kit Carson – 8
- Fremont – 8
- Alamosa – 7
- Otero – 5
- Costilla – 3
- Custer – 2
- Las Animas – 2
- Crowley – 2
- Lincoln – 2
- Huerfano – 1
- Prowers – 1
- Kiowa – 0
*The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment reported 66 cases of COVID-19 in the county on April 14, which includes three cases not reflected in the state data due to the collection period. Chaffee County is also reporting data not yet reflected in the state numbers.
---Pueblo School District 70 Food Service Worker Tests Negative For COVID-19---
Pueblo County School District 70 announced the food service worker involved in the school lunch program tested negative for the novel coronavirus. The district announced a two-week suspension of the program due to possible COVID-19 exposure. The program is scheduled to resume on April 27.
---Latest Unemployment Claim Numbers Show Exponential Increases In El Paso, Pueblo Counties---
A new report by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment shows increases in unemployment claims in the state over the month of March due to COVID-19.
El Paso County reported nearly 10,000 initial unemployment claims filed for the week of March 28. That is an increase over the nearly 3,000 claims filed the week prior. For comparison, numbers from the beginning of March showed 269 claims.
Pueblo and Chaffee Counties also saw increases according to the state. Pueblo had over 2, 000 claims, almost four times the number from the previous week in March. Chaffee County filed over 350 claims for the week of March 28, up from a weekly average of 6 in 2019.
Statewide, hospitality and health care were the two largest sectors where employees filed initial unemployment claims.
---Coronavirus Is Statistically More Prevalent Among Racial Minorities In Colorado---
The COVID-19 outbreak is more prevalent among African American, Hispanic and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander people in Colorado, according to new data from the state.
For example, while Latino people make up about 22 percent of the state's population, they are about 28 percent of its COVID-19 cases. While black people are about 4 percent of the population, they represent about 7 percent of cases.
The differences for all three groups are statistically significant, according to state officials. The effect was the opposite for white and Asian people, who made up a disproportionately small portion of cases.
Read more from our news partners at CPR.org.
---Pueblo School District 70 Suspends Meal Program---
Pueblo School District 70 is suspending its school lunch program for two weeks after a food service worker was possibly exposed to COVID-19.
According to school officials, the worker reported symptoms to a doctor over the weekend and followed guidelines to self-quarantine. The district says the person is being treated at a local hospital, and it's recommending its food service workers self-isolate for two weeks.
Meals with the district are scheduled to resume on April 27, pending results and recommendations from the state health department.
Meantime, the district is offering this guide for help finding food and other resources.
---COVID-19 Outbreak In Long-Term Care Facility In Pueblo---
Brookdale El Camino long-term care facility in Pueblo has an outbreak of COVID-19. The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment announced Monday the facility has four staff members and six residents who have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the health department, one employee tested positive in late March. Brookdale El Camino notified family and staff. A week later, a resident who was not linked to the original positive case, tested positive. The following week, several other employees and residents tested positive for COVID-19.
The facility has not allowed visitors since mid-March.
---Colfax County, NM, Reports Second Known Case Of COVID-19---
Colfax County in Northern New Mexico is reporting its second known case of COVID-19. The county had long been without anyone who tested positive, but in a matter of days now has two known cases.
Nearby Taos County has recorded 15 known cases.
New Mexico itself has more than 1300 known cases of COVID-19 and has recorded 31 deaths, mostly in the vicinity of Albuquerque.
---Latest Data From The Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment---
Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows 7691 known cases of COVID-19 in the state. That includes both positive tests and people who have been in contact with someone who tested positive and is exhibiting symptoms of the disease.
1493 people are hospitalized and 308 people have died. There are 72 known outbreaks in at residential and non-hospital healthcare facilities. Nearly 39,000 people have been tested according to the state, but not all negative tests may be represented in that number.
Data is complete through Sun., April 12.
In Southern and Southeastern Colorado counties, known cases of COVID-19 are the following:
- El Paso – 641 (+28 from the day before)
- Douglas – 304 (+6)
- Pueblo – 64* (+1)
- Chaffee – 41*
- Elbert – 16
- Teller – 16
- Baca – 10
- Kit Carson – 8
- Fremont – 8 (+1)
- Alamosa – 7
- Otero – 5
- Costilla – 3
- Custer – 2
- Las Animas – 2
- Crowley – 2
- Lincoln – 2 (+1)
- Huerfano – 1
- Prowers – 1
- Kiowa – 0
*The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment reported 63 cases of COVID-19 in the county, which includes three cases not reflected in the state data due to the collection period. Chaffee County is also reporting data not yet reflected in the state tabulation.
