COVID-19 outbreaks are ongoing in 587 Colorado schools, jails, health facilities, offices and businesses, breaking the previous week’s record for the fourth week in a row.
Most of the outbreaks are relatively small: 450 had 10 or fewer cases, according to data released Wednesday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The state health department defines an outbreak as at least two cases of the new coronavirus linked to the same location or event.
The largest outbreaks continued to grow, however. The state reported six universities, jails and prisons had 300 or more cases as of Wednesday, up from five the week before.
They include:
- University of Colorado Boulder community outbreak: 1,823 cases, no deaths (45 more cases than reported last week)
- Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center, Denver: 742 cases, no deaths (nine more cases)
- Sterling Correctional Facility: 706 cases, three deaths (21 more cases)
- Colorado State University: 678 cases, no deaths (112 more cases)
- Fremont Correctional Facility: 583 cases, one death (164 more cases)
- University of Denver community outbreak: 301 cases, no deaths (45 more cases)
The case totals are cumulative, so it’s possible not all newly reported infections happened in the last week. An outbreak isn’t considered over until four weeks have passed with no new cases linked to the location or event.
The El Paso County jail reported its outbreak also had expanded substantially, to 755 cases, though the state’s database still showed only 39. A news release from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said the explosion in cases came after they found 18 cases and opted to test all inmates, with help from the Colorado National Guard.
“Recognizing that this is an at-risk population considering the density of people living within close quarters, this testing strategy aims to quickly identify and further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the El Paso County Jail. Test results are used to implement appropriate isolation and cohort recommendations quickly,” the news release said.
Outbreaks are ongoing at 73 K-12 schools, 48 child care centers, 40 nursing homes, 27 correctional facilities and 18 college facilities or programs. The full database can be found at .
This content was originally published here.
