COLORADO, USA — There are 138 patients currently hospitalized in Colorado as of Sept. 15, and the seven-day, moving average positivity rate stands at 2.68%, according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Positivity is an important indicator of the status of COVID-19 in the state. The World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2020 recommended that the positivity rate be at 5% to contain the virus.
> Watch the video above: Colorado coronavirus breakdown of the latest numbers.
Current hospitalization data are also a key metric because they can be an indicator of whether Colorado’s hospital system is being overwhelmed by the virus. In April, hospitalizations peaked at 888 in one day, indicating the state is on a safer track now to ensure medical centers aren't overwhelmed.
In addition, there have been 1,996 deaths among those who tested positive for COVID-19, up from 1,990 the day prior.
Data are released each day at 4 p.m. Numbers will be updated each day at that time.
A breakdown of this data and links to related stories can be found below.
What to know right now:
- 62,099 cumulative cases, up from 61,699 the day prior.
- 7,262 cumulative hospitalizations, up from 7,240 the day prior.
- 1,996 deaths among those who tested positive for COVID-19, up from 1,990 the day prior.
- 1,996 deaths due to COVID-19, up from 1,894 the day prior.
- Get the latest from CDPHE.
- Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order mandating face masks or coverings for anyone in indoor places in public.
- Polis ordered bars and nightclubs closed again to in-person service, after two weeks of slight upticks in cases, on June 30.
Recent coronavirus news
Coronavirus data breakdown
CDPHE reports 62,099 people have tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. That's up from 61,699 the day prior.
The graphic below shows case growth, which comes from subtracting the total number of cases from the previous day. A moving average helps capture a trend over a period of time. This removes some noise from the day-to-day numbers. The line on the graph is the seven-day moving average of case growth.
Positivity
Positivity is the number of tests that come back with a COVID-19 result. Above 10% could be an indicator that not enough testing is being done and that only people likely to have COVID are getting tested. The World Health Organization recommended in May 2020 that the positivity rate should be even lower, at 5%, to contain the virus.
Fatalities
CDPHE reports:
- 1,996 deaths among people with COVID-19
- 1,905 deaths due to COVID-19
The majority of deaths — 53% — are among people over age 80; 23% of deaths occurred in people between ages 70-79, and 13% were in people ages 60-69.
The graph below shows number of people who have died from COVID-19 based on the date of their death.
On May 15, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shifted to a death documentation difference that divided into "deaths among cases" and "deaths due to COVID-19." Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist at CDPHE, said on May 18 that deaths in the "among" category are from those that tested positive for COVID-19 either before or after death. This is done by medical workers on the front line. Deaths in the "due to" category lag and stem from death certificates that the Centers for Disease Control codes and then sends to CDPHE. On the CDPHE website, it explains the two categories should not be on the same timeline because of reporting differences.
Hospitalizations
Of those who tested positive for the disease, a total of 7,262 cumulative hospitalizations have been reported.
As of Sept. 15, 138 patients were hospitalized with the disease, according to the most recent data from the Colorado Hospital Association. Within the last 24 hours, 13 patients had been transferred or discharged.
(Note: 87% of facilities reported data as of Sept. 15.)
The graph below shows the number of people currently hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis and the number of people who have been discharged within 24 hours. This is a key metric because it can be an indicator of whether or not Colorado’s hospital system is being overwhelmed by the virus.
Testing
According to CDPHE, 791,439 people have been tested, up from 786,511 the day prior, and 63 counties are reporting cases.
This graph shows the total number of tests processed each day.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: COVID-19 Coronavirus