Colorado has recorded 1,062 deaths from the new coronavirus as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to level off, state health officials announced Wednesday.
The 53 additional deaths added to the tally did not occur in a single day, but rather were backdated by health officials to previous days when they actually occurred as older information is passed along to the state, according to from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
There have been 3,735 people hospitalized since the outbreak was first confirmed in the state in early March, but only 522 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Tuesday afternoon, shows. At least 57 people since Tuesday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care, like a rehabilitation facility.
More than 20,400 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 3,800 tests on Tuesday as the state ramps up its capabilities to better track the virus. The testing rate — 67.3 tests per 100,000 people per day — 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 206 facilities across the state, seven more than the previous day.
The state health department announces of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on whatap 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.
