The number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations remained relatively low Friday as Colorado approached a moment of truth: finding out whether Memorial Day celebrations interfered with that progress.
It generally takes two to three weeks for transmission at events to start showing up in the data. Friday was the earliest any effects from the long weekend could be expected to show up. If there are any, they could appear as late as June 15.
New data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment showed 240 new cases diagnosed the previous day, bringing the state’s total to 27,615. The number of new cases has generally trended down since late April.
Five deaths have reported this week among people who had COVID-19, though that number could rise because of delayed reporting. The total death toll rose to 1,524 among people who tested positive for the coronavirus, with the virus listed as the cause of death in 1,274 cases.
The Colorado Hospital Association reported 215 people were still being treated for COVID-19 as of Friday morning, continuing the pattern of falling hospitalizations since late April. Four hospitals said they could face staff shortages in the next week, but none said they were short of protective equipment or beds to care for critically ill patients.
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