DENVER, CO - MARCH 24: Childcare workers at the Southwest Family YMCA are on hand to serve a very important role during the coronavirus pandemic on March 24, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Today, about 18 kids are at this location, ranging from pre-school age to 12-years-old, and are able to participate in physical activities in the gymnasium, as well as a range of craft projects, like making masks. (Photo By Kathryn Scott)

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The rate of COVID-19 outbreaks in Colorado child care centers more than tripled in October, prompting reminders from the state about key health and safety precautions.

State officials tallied around three dozen outbreaks in child care programs in October, compared with 10 in September. There were a dozen outbreaks Denver, with smaller numbers in Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and El Paso counties. Colorado has about 4,500 licensed child care providers serving children ages 0-5 and school-age children.

COVID-19 IN COLORADO

The latest from the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado:

  • MAP: Cases and deaths in Colorado.
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An outbreak is defined as two or more cases in which public health officials believe transmission occurred within a particular facility.

Unlike schools, many child care centers have been open during most or all of the pandemic. The first child care outbreaks occurred in May in two suburban Denver centers, and there have been periodic outbreaks since. However, October saw a notable increase in the number of outbreaks.

The jump coincides with rising community spread in metro Denver over the past several weeks. State officials have now classified both Denver and Adams County in the second-highest of five risk categories, called “Safer Level 3.” Most other nearby counties fall into the middle category, “Safer Level 2.”

Around 40 K-12 schools also had COVID-19 outbreaks in October, with nine in Adams County, seven in El Paso County, six in Denver, and five each in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. That compares with 18 outbreaks in September. Colorado has more than 1,900 K-12 schools.

Read more at chalkbeat.org.

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat Colorado covering early childhood education. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the Denver Post. She holds a master’s degree in education policy from the University...