Reports of deaths related to the new coronavirus continue to slow in Colorado, with state health officials for the second straight day announcing no new fatalities tied directly to COVID-19 and only two additional deaths of people who had contracted the virus.
Deaths announced by Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment each day have not necessarily occurred in the last 24 hours, as there can be a lag of days or even weeks in reporting them to the state — particularly when it comes to those whose death certificates show they died from the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
Overall, coronavirus deaths in Colorado have been declining since their mid-April peak, state data shows.
State health officials recently began reporting the number of people who died who had been infected by the virus, and not necessarily killed by it, as well as those whose deaths have been directly attributed to COVID-19. As of Sunday, 1,445 people with the coronavirus had died in Colorado and 1,181 deaths were directly caused by COVID-19.
Hospitalizations of coronavirus patients continue their decline, with 297 people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 in Colorado — the first time that number has fallen below 300 since March 27. All told, 4,347 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 since the virus was first confirmed in the state in early March.
Private facilities and the state-run lab tested 7,517 people on Saturday, according to state data. Colorado’s daily testing rate — 132 tests per 100,000 people per day — is close to the 152 tests per 100,000 people level that health officials say is needed to understand where the virus is spreading.
To date, 26,378 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, though health officials say they believe the true number is much higher.
Officials also have confirmed outbreaks at 281 contained facilities across the state, including nursing homes, jails and factories — one more than the previous day.
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