This post will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Update-4:10 p.m.
---Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority Offers Grants---
Grants ranging from $2500 to $25,000 are now available to small storefront businesses within the Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority.
According to the Downtown Partnership, the goal is to provide immediate financial relief to locally owned businesses in the downtown area that are most impacted by the spread of the new coronavirus.
Applications are due by April 22. More information is available here.
---More Than 800 Coronavirus Patients Discharged From Colorado Hospitals---
At least 814 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been released from Colorado hospitals. More than a quarter were released Tuesday, according to data presented by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday.
"Most COVID patients are going to be just fine," Polis told the press in an update on the state's response. "COVID can be fatal for people of all ages but the good news is there are also people of all ages that can make it through. There are survivors that are 104 and survivors that are 20 years old just as there's victims in both age groups as well."
Read more from our news partners at CPR.org
---Updated COVID-19 Data From The State Health Department---
Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows 8280 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.
1636 people are hospitalized and 357 people have died. There are 83 known outbreaks in at residential and non-hospital healthcare facilities. Nearly 41,000 people have been tested according to the state, but not all negative tests may be represented in that number.
Data is complete through Tues., April 14.
In Southern and Southeastern Colorado counties, known cases of COVID-19 are the following:
- El Paso – 668 (+16 from the previous day)
- Douglas – 312 (+8)
- Pueblo – 73* (+7)
- Chaffee – 55*
- Elbert – 16
- Teller – 16
- Baca – 10
- Kit Carson – 8
- Fremont – 9 (+1)
- Alamosa – 7
- Otero – 5
- Costilla – 3
- Custer – 2
- Las Animas – 3* (+1)
- Crowley – 2
- Lincoln – 2
- Huerfano – 1
- Prowers – 1
- Kiowa – 0
*Health officials in Pueblo, Chaffee and Las Animas Counties are reporting cases not yet reflected in state data.
Update-10:48 a.m.
---Third COVID-19 Positive Case In Las Animas County---
Health officials in Southern Colorado are confirming a third positive test for COVID-19 in Las Animas County.
The Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department says it's a woman in her 90s, who has been in isolation at the local hospital. The public nurse has started an investigation as to who the woman may have been in contact with.
Morning Update:
---Unemployment Claims Continue To Rise---
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.
---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.
---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 Mon., April 13.
In Southern and Southeastern Colorado counties, known cases of COVID-19 are the following:
- El Paso – 652
- Douglas – 304
- Pueblo – 66*
- Chaffee – 57*
- Elbert – 17
- 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.
