Colorado has recorded 1,091 deaths from the new coronavirus as the number of serious COVID-19 cases appears to be steadily falling, state health officials announced Thursday.
There have been 3,789 people hospitalized since the outbreak was first confirmed in the state in early March, but only 514 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Wednesday afternoon, state data shows.
That number is down from a peak of 888 on April 14 and has been steadily dropping since April 23. At least 46 people since Wednesday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care, like a rehabilitation facility.
Additionally, as of Thursday, there were 364 critical care ventilators being used across the state, down from 463 a month ago, according to state data.
More than 20,800 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus, though health officials have said the true number is likely far higher.
Officials recorded more than 4,200 tests on Wednesday as the state ramps up its capabilities to better track the virus. The testing rate — 74.76 tests per 100,000 people per day — is higher than the previous four days , but remains significantly lower than the 152-per-100,000 daily number that health experts say is necessary to safely monitor the outbreak.
Much of the testing has been focused on senior living facilities and other care homes. Officials have confirmed outbreaks at 208 facilities across the state, two more than the previous day.
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what’s reported up from Colorado’s counties; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day, they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state.
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