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Colorado coronavirus latest: April 4: 15 more deaths, 408 new cases

COVID-19 is in Colorado — we'll continue to post updates and headlines on how Colorado is being affected by the coronavirus.

COLORADO, USA — Cases of COVID-19, a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, began popping up in the United States in January. On March 5, the first case was announced in Colorado.

Each day, we will post a new blog that will track the daily changes in Denver and throughout Colorado as we get them.

RELATED: FAQs: Answering your questions on the coronavirus in Colorado

WHAT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

  • 4,565 cases in Colorado, 875 hospitalized and 126 deaths. Get the latest from the Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).
  • Colorado issued a statewide stay-at-home order that that began Thursday, March 26 and will be in effect until at least April 11. (Some local orders remain in place and might be more restrictive.)
  • Polis said in a Wednesday news conference that schools would be closed through at least April 30.
  • Colorado hopes to add more than 12,000 hospital beds by May as it works to prepare for a surge of COVID-19 patients, which is expected sometime between April and July.
  • Multiple Denver metro area school districts will cancel in-person class for the rest of the school year. Students will now learn remotely. 
  • RTD said it will implement rear-door boarding and suspend fees across its bus, light rail and train routes effective Sunday, April 5. 16th Street Free MallRide shuttle service will also be suspended at that time.

Read updates from April 3 here.

Saturday, April 4

Colorado Unified Command Group member tests positive

A member of the Colorado Unified Command Group (UCG) working at the State Emergency Operations Center in Centennial tested positive for COVID-19. According to a release , the staff member went through daily medical screenings and had been asymptomatic until Saturday, when symptoms started. The staff member contacted executive leadership and self-isolated pending testing arrangements, according to the release. The test came back positive.

The release said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is conducting a full epidemiological investigation to evaluate the level of exposure in the UCG.

Colorado announces 15 more deaths, 408 new cases

15 more deaths connected to COVID-19 and 408 new cases were announced by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) on Saturday.

875 have been hospitalized, an increase of 52, according to CDPHE.

To date, 23,900 people have been tested, and there have been 30 outbreaks at residential and non-hospital health care facilities in Colorado.

Testing site in El Paso County expanding to include people over 65

A FEMA-sponsored site in Colorado Springs that is conducting testing for health-care workers and first-responders will expand Sunday to include testing for individuals older than 65 who are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

The drive-through site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the back parking lot of 175 S. Union Blvd. People who want to get tested need to bring a picture ID and insurance information, but individuals over 65 with COVID-19 symptoms will be tested regardless of insurance status, according to a press release from El Paso County Public Health.

There's no cost for testing, and you don't need to have a note from a doctor to be tested. Don't bring pets or passengers who will not be getting tested.

"We are grateful for the support of our federal partners at FEMA,” said Lisa Powell, emergency preparedness and response program manager for El Paso County Public Health. “The ability to expand local testing capability is an incredible resource, and it gives us the opportunity to provide expedited testing for our most vulnerable populations.”

189 Colorado health care workers, first responders tested

The Weld County and Larimer County Departments of Public Health in Environment tested 189 people at drive-through for health care workers and first responders at the Ranch in Loveland on Tuesday, March 31, and Friday, April 3.

“Health care workers and first responders have been working tirelessly to treat people who’ve been infected by this virus,” said Dr. Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. “Making the first supply of test kits in northern Colorado available to them was a critical step in keeping them healthy and protecting against the spread of COVID-19.”

The test kits were provided by the federal Health and Human Services Department, according to the release.

Each test took about 10 minutes to complete and were gathered by CDPHE for analysis, the release said.

Officials said they will share results with anyone who tests positive over the next several days. The remaining kits will be split among Weld and Larimer counties and will be used to test priority populations.

Polis says Coloradans need to wear a face covering when out in public

Gov. Jared Polis has recommended that all Coloradans wear non-medical face coverings when they leave their homes for non-essential activities through the reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This should be part of everybody’s personal hygiene practices and distancing practices,” Polis said during a news conference Friday .

The governor emphasized that this encompasses non-medical face masks – not the personal protective equipment used by the professionals who are fighting the virus in hospitals and other facilities.

RELATED: Gov. Polis asks Coloradans to wear face coverings when out in public

Coronavirus cases in Colorado

In Colorado, 4,565 people have tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and 126 people have died. Of those who tested positive for the disease, 875 have been hospitalized.

According to CDPHE, 23,900 people have been tested and 54 counties are reporting cases. There have been 30 outbreaks at residential and non-hospital health care facilities.

See the latest numbers from the state health department.

  • Denver: 769
  • Arapahoe: 552
  • Jefferson: 483
  • Weld: 424
  • El Paso: 406
  • Eagle: 333
  • Adams: 320
  • Douglas: 209
  • Boulder: 154
  • Larimer: 144
  • Gunnison: 90
  • Garfield: 45
  • Broomfield: 44
  • Summit: 43
  • Pitkin: 38
  • Pueblo: 36
  • Montrose: 31
  • Routt: 29
  • La Plata: 25
  • Chaffee: 21
  • Mesa: 20
  • Morgan: 16
  • Teller: 11
  • San Miguel: 9
  • Baca: 9
  • Elbert: 9
  • Logan: 8
  • Montezuma: 6
  • Clear Creek: 6
  • Rio Grande: 5
  • Park: 5
  • Kit Carson: 5
  • Grand: 4
  • Alamosa: 4
  • Delta: 4
  • Moffat: 3
  • Otero: 3
  • Saguache: 3
  • Costilla: 3
  • Lake: 3
  • Phillips: 3
  • Fremont: 3
  • Yuma: 2
  • Mineral: 2
  • Custer: 2
  • Ouray: 2
  • Rio Blanco: 1
  • Archuleta: 1
  • Las Animas: 1
  • Hinsdale: 1
  • Huerfano: 1
  • Crowley: 1
  • Washington: 1
  • Lincoln: 1
  • Out of state: 26
  • Unknown or pending: 185

COVID-19 is a disease caused by 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.

RELATED: What you can and can't do under Colorado's stay-at-home order

RELATED: FAQ: Dr. Kohli answers your questions about the coronavirus

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.

RELATED: Data show which communities COVID-19 is impacting most in Colorado

CDC's testing guidance includes three types of people:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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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