Colorado Continues To See Decline In COVID Hospitalizations & Positivity Rate

DENVER (CBS4) - The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in Colorado has steadily declined this month. The state's 7-day average positivity rate dropped from 12.41% on Dec. 4 to 6.58% on Dec. 23.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported a 5.84% daily positivity rate on Wednesday. The World Health Organization recommends a positivity rate of 5% or lower for at least two weeks before local governments begin reopening.

Since the pandemic started, more than 2 million people in Colorado have been tested for the virus. CDPHE reports more than 4 million test encounters, which includes repeated tests for individuals.

Hospitalizations of confirmed COVID-19 patients peaked in early December. On Thursday, CDPHE reported 1,163 patients hospitalized with the virus, a decrease of 59 from Wednesday.

One in five hospitals and facilities in the state anticipate a staff shortage in the next week. At the start of December, more than a third of Colorado facilities reported staffing concerns to the state.

CDPHE updates COVID-19 data each day at covid19.colorado.gov/data.

COVID-19 Data as of 4 p.m. Thursday: 

Vaccines:

• Colorado is in Phase 1A
• 55,778 Vaccine Doses Administered

Testing:

• 44,166 tests conducted on Dec. 23 with 6.58% positivity rate (7-day moving average)
• 5.85% daily positivity rate on Dec. 23

Hospital Data:

• 1,163 Patients currently hospitalized, 93% of facilities reporting (-59)
• 97 Patients under investigation for probable cases, not lab confirmed (-17)
• 187 Patients discharged/transferred in past 24 hours (+36)
• 20% Facilities anticipating staff shortages within next week (+0%)
• 1% Facilities anticipating PPE shortages within next week (+0%)
• 8% Facilities anticipating ICU bed shortages within next week (+1%)
• 40% Critical care ventilators in use (-2%)
• 75% of ICU Beds in use (426 available)

Case Summary:

• 319,530 cases (+3,030)
• 17,793 hospitalized (+151)
• 2,083,547 tested (+13,350)
• 4,197,950 test encounters (+44,166)
• 4,550 deaths among cases (+88)
• 3,605 deaths due to COVID-19 (+0)
• 2,953 outbreaks (+11)