Late Tuesday afternoon, Colorado Governor Jared Polis took action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, amending and extending an Executive Order pertaining to Disaster Recovery. This amendment allocates funds to the Colorado Department of Public Safety for COVID-19 related purposes.
The Governor also extended an Executive Order pertaining to hospital transfers that authorize the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to order hospitals and freestanding emergency departments to transfer, cease admission, or redirect patients in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It does not authorize CDPHE to make transfer or admission decisions based solely on vaccination status.
The extension of the Executive Order will help to ensure that Coloradans have adequate care as we continue to combat COVID-19, promote public health, and protect the ability of hospitals to serve those with COVID-19 and other conditions. A statewide facemask order is in place, stipulating that unvaccinated people must wear masks in certain indoor public spaces.
On Tuesday, the U.S. passed its all-time record for new COVID cases in a single day – more than 262,000 cases – surpassing the record set last Jan. 11. There have now been more than 53 million confirmed cases in the U.S., and the CDC is saying that the latest Omicron surge is seeing a disturbing rise in hospitalizations among children.
The same day, Colorado passed the 900,000 mark of confirmed COVID-19 cases. On Tuesday there were 3,191 new cases, up 849 over yesterday. The first cases of Omicron were picked up in the state the week of Dec. 12, and now more than 82 percent of all new cases are the Omicron variant.
Since the start of the pandemic in March, 2020, there have been 10,275 deaths of Coloradans due to COVID-19, and 10,169 deaths among those who also had COVID.
Among the state’s realities:
- Some 40 percent of the state’s available ventilators are in use.
- 15 percent of all Colorado hospital beds are filled with COVID patients
- The state’s positivity rate has risen to 23.66 percent; meaning nearly one in every four people tested is positive.
The counties along the I-70 corridor are seeing the highest rates of COVID since the start of the pandemic, describing Omicron as “spreading like wildfire.” Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 29, Vail will even require facemasks for skiers riding the gondolas.
In Chaffee County, there have been 46 new cases in the past seven days, and 76 new cases in the past 14 days. As predicted, newly identified cases for Dec. 27 and 28 (when testing sites reopened after the Christmas holiday) are the highest they have been since November. The new Omicron variant is now responsible for the vast majority of new COVID-19 cases in the county as well as the state.
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is at 48 percent capacity, with 26 visits to the ER for COVID in the past 14 days, with five COVID patients hospitalized over the past 14 days.
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