A 41-year-old El Paso County sheriff’s deputy died Wednesday after contracting the novel coronavirus.
Deputy Jeff Hopkins was a 19-year veteran on the force, according to the sheriff’s office, which announced his death Thursday.
Since early March, several thousand people in Colorado have been infected with the novel coronavirus, which causes the highly contagious respiratory disease COVID-19. So far, at least 80 people in the state have died from the disease, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms in the majority of patients, but for some, particularly older people or those with underlying health conditions, the disease can be fatal.
It is with profound sadness we announce Deputy Jeff Hopkins while off duty, passed away on April 1 from the COVID-19 virus. Deputy Hopkins was 41 years old and leaves behind his wife, Wendy. Deputy Hopkins has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since 2001. #NeverForgotten pic.twitter.com/JhNbhdyXiA
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) April 2, 2020
