Credibility:

  • Original Reporting
  • Sources Cited
Original Reporting This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents.
Sources Cited As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom in accordance with the Civil Constitution.
Diane Scanzaroli, a physician assistant at Ardas Family Medicine in Aurora, in the parking lot of the clinic on April 15, 2020, after testing a patient for the new coronavirus. (Moe Clark, The Colorado Sun)

Colorado passed the grim milestone of 1,000 coronavirus deaths and 20,000 confirmed and probable cases on Tuesday a little more than two months after the disease was first confirmed to have reached the state.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is also now confirmed to be in 60 of the state’s 64 counties.

The total number of fatalities through Tuesday afternoon was 1,010, an increase of 21 deaths over the number reported on Monday. Many of those newly reported fatalities appear to have happened days or weeks ago, as the state collects information on deaths that weren’t previously linked to coronavirus.

MAP: Where Colorado’s coronavirus cases have been identified

Denver has, by far, the most coronavirus fatalities at 214. It is followed by Arapahoe County, which has had at least 183 deaths through Tuesday afternoon.

Roughly half of the state’s coronavirus fatalities have been among residents of nursing homes and senior care centers.

COVID-19 IN COLORADO

The latest from the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado:

  • MAP: Cases and deaths in Colorado.
  • TESTING: Here’s where to find a community testing site. The state is now encouraging anyone with symptoms to get tested.
  • VACCINE HOTLINE: Get up-to-date information.

>> FULL COVERAGE

The deaths by county are:

  • Denver – 214
  • Arapahoe County – 183
  • Weld County – 117
  • Jefferson County – 67
  • Adams County – 84
  • El Paso County – 81
  • Boulder County – 56
  • Douglas County – 29
  • Morgan County – 22
  • Broomfield – 20
  • Larimer County – 19
  • Chaffee County – 16
  • Pueblo County – 12
  • Montrose County – 11
  • Eagle County – 8
  • Routt County – 6
  • Gunnison County – 6
  • Unknown county of residence – 3
  • Montezuma County – 3
  • Logan County – 3
  • Teller County – 2
  • Pitkin County – 2
  • Kit Carson County – 2
  • Garfield County – 2
  • Elbert County – 2
  • Alamosa County – 2
  • Summit County – 2
  • Ouray County – 1
  • Otero County – 1
  • La Plata county – 1
  • Delta County – 1
  • Crowley County – 1
  • Clear Creek County – 1

Even as the number of deaths and confirmed and probable cases have risen, Gov. Jared Polis says the rate of infection has dropped to one of its lowest levels since the crisis began in Colorado.

Hospitalizations were at 563 on Tuesday, down from their peak of 888 on April 14. Only a fraction of the state’s critical-care ventilators are being used.

However, public health officials worry that as restrictions on Coloradans’ movement are lifted, cases, hospitalizations and deaths could tick back up. Doctors say they are better prepared this time around for another wave of patients, and the state has built out capacity as an insurance policy.

The Colorado Sun — jesse@coloradosun.com Desk: 720-432-2229 Jesse Paul is a Denver-based political reporter and editor at The Colorado Sun, covering the state legislature, Congress and local politics. He is the author of The Unaffiliated...