Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

DENVER (Feb. 17, 2022) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado School of Public Health released an updated statewide modeling report that shows COVID-19 infections and hospital demand continue to decline in Colorado. 

“As we move beyond our omicron surge, it is encouraging to see this updated modeling report confirm the cautious optimism we have felt in seeing cases and hospitalizations steadily decrease,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist. “This model suggests there is a high level of immunity in the state right now and that most Coloradans are currently protected against severe disease. We will continue to monitor data and the modeling moving forward to try to best understand when this immunity may begin to wane.”

Modeling estimates that 1.4%, or 1 in every 69 Coloradans, was infectious as of Feb. 13, and 90% of Coloradans are now immune to omicron infection and even more are protected against severe disease. This significant level of immunity will begin to fade in coming months but is expected to remain high into the start of summer unless a new variant emerges that is able to escape the immune response. Such a new variant could rapidly reduce population immunity and result in a new surge. 

Another key factor affecting the length of immunity is ongoing vaccination including the timing, target population, and uptake associated with future recommendations. Coloradans are encouraged to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines to maintain the highest level of protection.

The latest modeling projections are based on COVID-19 hospital census data through February 14, 2022, and vaccination data through February 11, 2022.

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) assembled the expert group that works with the state on modeling projections. The group includes modeling scientists at ColoradoSPH and the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, as well as experts from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver, and Colorado State University.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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Nuevo informe de modelización: los casos y la demanda hospitalaria siguen disminuyendo; la mayoría de los habitantes de Colorado son inmunes a la variante ómicron

DENVER (17 de febrero de 2022) — El Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado y Colorado School of Public Health publicaron un informe actualizado de modelización a nivel estatal que muestra que las infecciones por COVID-19 y la demanda hospitalaria siguen disminuyendo en nuestro Estado.

En palabras de la Dra. Rachel Herlihy, Epidemióloga del Estado: “A medida que se aleja el pico de la oleada de contagios causados por la variante omicrón, nos alienta constatar que este informe de modelización actualizado confirma nuestro prudente optimismo. En efecto, hemos observado que los casos y las hospitalizaciones disminuyen de continuo. Este modelo sugiere que en este momento hay un alto nivel de inmunidad en Colorado y que la mayoría de nuestros habitantes están actualmente protegidos contra cuadros de enfermedad grave. En el futuro continuaremos monitoreando los datos y el modelo para tratar de entender mejor cuándo la inmunidad que observamos puede empezar a disminuir”.

Según las estimaciones del modelo, al 13 de febrero el 1,4%, —vale decir, 1 de cada 69 habitantes de Colorado—estaba en fase contagiosa. Además, el 90% son ahora inmunes a la infección por ómicron y un número aún mayor está protegido contra cuadros de enfermedad grave. Este importante nivel de inmunidad empezará a desaparecer en los próximos meses. No obstante, se espera que siga siendo alto hasta el inicio del verano, a menos que surja una nueva variante capaz de evadir la respuesta inmunitaria. Una nueva variante de este tipo podría reducir rápidamente la inmunidad de la población y dar lugar a una nueva oleada.

La campaña de vacunación en curso es otro factor clave que afecta la duración de la inmunidad, incluyendo los tiempos de la misma, los grupos poblacionales impactados y la observancia asociada a las futuras recomendaciones. Se recomienda a los habitantes de Colorado que estén al día con las dosis de las vacunas contra el COVID-19 para mantener el nivel más alto de protección.

Las últimas proyecciones del modelo se basan en los datos del censo hospitalario respecto al COVID-19 obtenido al 14 de febrero de 2022 y en los datos de vacunación recabados al 11 de febrero de 2022.

Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) reunió el grupo de expertos que trabaja con el Estado en las proyecciones de la modelización. Este grupo incluye científicos de modelización de la ColoradoSPH y de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Colorado en el Campus Médico Anschutz de la Universidad de Colorado, así como expertos de la Universidad de Colorado en Boulder, la Universidad de Colorado en Denver y Colorado State University.

Continúe manteniéndose informado visitando covid19.colorado.gov.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Today, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment launches an additional school testing program that will supplement testing resources, help students and staff continue in-person learning after contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and reduce the burden on parents. 

The Test to Stay Program, which begins today, provides a pathway out of quarantine for students and staff with school-associated exposures to COVID-19 if they remain asymptomatic and test negative twice. An exposed student or staff member will take the first test as soon as they are notified they have been exposed. If this first test is negative, they may stay in school so long as they wear a well-fitting mask and remain asymptomatic. They should then test again five to seven days after their exposure to COVID-19. If the second test is also negative, and they remain asymptomatic, the student or staff member can continue to remain at school. Staff and students must wear a well-fitting mask consistently and correctly while around others for 10 days following their exposure to a positive case, even if their rapid tests are negative and regardless of masking policies at that school. 

School administrators may also choose to include staff and students with non-household community exposures to participate in Test to Stay. 

The program is open to everyone, but individuals who are up-to-date on their vaccinations do not have to quarantine after being exposed to someone at school who tested positive for COVID-19. Individuals are considered up-to-date if they have received all the recommended vaccinations, including a third dose for those 12 and older. Unvaccinated individuals who choose not to participate in Test to Stay and who are exposed to a positive case at school will not be allowed to remain at school and will need to complete the normal five-day quarantine, followed by five days of wearing a well-fitting mask in school. 

“We are committed to helping ensure students continue in-person learning and are providing schools with a  menu of testing resources to help make that happen,” Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, said. “We encourage schools to enroll in this and other testing programs so students can continue to benefit from being in the classroom.” 

Test to Stay complements a variety of already available testing options for schools. Schools also can take advantage of the free School Screening Testing Program, which provides wraparound testing services, including coordination of testing logistics, test administration, and reporting of results. Schools also can request tests and develop their own testing program. In addition, CDPHE provides surge testing resources while the state experiences high disease transmission. 

In the Test to Stay program, CDPHE will provide schools with Abbott BinaxNOW rapid over-the-counter tests, and the schools will distribute them to eligible staff and students. Staff and students will report their test results in Abbott’s NAVICA app/reporting platform, and schools will be able to see the results on the NAVICA app Dashboard. All test results collected by the NAVICA app are securely transmitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The state of Colorado has a contract with Abbott for up to 2 million tests to support this program and other school testing needs. These tests come to Colorado in regular shipments.  

Test to Stay enrollment is now open to all schools. Participating schools will be asked to complete a Memorandum of Understanding and are encouraged to institute the layered mitigation strategies outlined in the practical guide for operationalizing CDC’s school guidance. Schools already enrolled in the School Screening Program will need to enroll separately in Test to Stay. CDPHE will ship tests to the enrolled schools, and enrolled schools can re-order at any time. 

Anyone who develops symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should get tested immediately and isolate. Individuals who have symptoms but test negative with a rapid test should follow up with a PCR test. Positive rapid result tests do not need to be confirmed. Any staff or student who tests positive while participating in the Test to Stay program should isolate. 

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Today, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, marketed under the brand name Spikevax, for people ages 18 and older. This approval marks the second COVID-19 to receive this designation, following the full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23, 2021. All available COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective, and the state remains focused on vaccinating as many eligible Coloradans as possible.

“This approval marks another important milestone, reaffirming that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine meets the highest standards for safety and effectiveness,” said Dr. Eric France, Chief Medical Officer. “Real-world data from hundreds of millions of doses has shown that getting vaccinated and staying up to date on all recommended doses provides the highest level of protection against COVID-19 for yourself and your community.”

There are more than 1,900 COVID-19 vaccine providers across the state, as well as mobile vaccine buses, to ensure all Coloradans have convenient access to the vaccine. 

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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La FDA da su aprobación plena a la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19

COLORADO (31 de enero de 2022) — La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) dio hoy su aprobación total a la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19 (comercializada bajo la marca Spikevax) para personas mayores de 18 años. Se trata de la segunda vacuna contra el COVID-19 que obtiene esta designación; cabe recordar que la de Pfizer-BioNTech recibió la aprobación total el 23 de agosto de 2021. Todas las vacunas disponibles contra el COVID-19 han demostrado ser seguras y eficaces. Por su parte, el gobierno estatal sigue focalizado en inmunizar al mayor número posible de habitantes de Colorado que cumplan con los requisitos.

En palabras del Dr. Eric France, Director Médico del CDPHE: “Esta aprobación marca otro hito importante y confirma que la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19 cumple con los más altos estándares de seguridad y eficacia.  Los datos concretos provenientes de millones de dosis han demostrado que vacunarse y estar al día con todas las dosis recomendadas brinda el mayor nivel de protección contra el virus del COVID-19 para uno mismo y para su comunidad.”

Hay más de 1,900 proveedores de la vacuna COVID-19 en todo Colorado, así como unidades móviles (autobuses) de vacunación cuyo propósito es garantizar que todos los habitantes de nuestro Estado tengan fácil acceso a la vacuna.

Continúe manteniéndose informado visitando covid19.colorado.gov.

Colorado Department of Public Heath and Environment

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado School of Public Health released an updated statewide modeling report suggesting the current curve has begun to decline and should continue to do so in coming weeks, though Colorado is still experiencing a very high level of SARS-CoV-2 disease transmission in the state. 

“It is encouraging to see this modeling report suggest we have moved beyond the peak of our omicron surge, and that we should continue to see declining COVID-19 transmission in Colorado in the coming weeks,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist. “There are still high levels of COVID-19 circulating in the state, so we ask Coloradans to remain cautious and continue to follow public health guidance to help protect themselves and others — get vaccinated, get a third dose as soon as it is time, wear a mask in public, and avoid large gatherings. Together we can work to ensure case rates continue to decrease in Colorado.”

Immunity to omicron is high and rising, and the modeling estimates that 80% of the state population will be immune to omicron by mid-February. Based on Colorado data, the Colorado COVID-19 Modeling Group estimates that one in 19 Coloradans is currently infectious. The report notes that while there is uncertainty around this estimate, all evidence indicates infection prevalence has been at unprecedented levels in January 2022, but the model projects this prevalence will decline in coming weeks, potentially to below 1% by the end of February.

The latest modeling projections are based on COVID-19 hospital census data through January 23, 2022, and vaccination data through January 14, 2022.

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) assembled the expert group that works with the state on modeling projections. The group includes modeling scientists at ColoradoSPH and the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, as well as experts from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver, and Colorado State University.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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Se espera que la curva epidémica de COVID-19 en Colorado siga disminuyendo en las próximas semanas

La infección causada por la variante ómicron permanece en niveles elevados

DENVER (26 de enero de 2022) — El Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado (CDPHE) y Colorado School of Public Health publicaron un informe actualizado de modelización a nivel estatal, el cual sugiere que la presente curva epidémica ha comenzado a disminuir y debería seguir bajando en las próximas semanas, si bien aún se observa en Colorado un nivel muy alto de transmisión de la enfermedad SARS-CoV-2.

La Dra. Rachel Herlihy, epidemióloga estatal, expresó: “Es alentador constatar que este informe de modelización sugiere que hemos superado el pico de la oleada de la variante ómicron; se espera que la disminución de la propagación de COVID-19 en Colorado continúe en las próximas semanas. Todavía hay altos niveles de COVID-19 circulando en nuestro Estado, es por eso que le pedimos a los habitantes de Colorado que sigan siendo cautelosos y continúen acatando las recomendaciones de Salud Pública a efectos de protegerse a sí mismos y a los demás; entre estas se incluyen: vacunarse, recibir una tercera dosis tan pronto como les corresponda, usar un cubrebocas en público y evitar las reuniones muy concurridas. Trabajemos juntos para garantizar que las tasas de casos de COVID-19 sigan disminuyendo en Colorado”.

La inmunidad contra la variante ómicron ya es elevada y va en aumento; la modelización estima que el 80% de la población del Estado será inmune a esta variante a mediados de febrero. Basándose en los datos del Estado, el Colorado COVID-19 Modeling Group estima que uno de cada 19 de nuestros habitantes puede a la fecha contagiar a otros. El informe señala que, pese a que existe incertidumbre en torno a esta estimación, todos los datos indican que la prevalencia de la infección ha alcanzado niveles sin precedentes en enero de 2022. Dicho esto, la modelización prevé que esta tasa de incidencia disminuirá en las próximas semanas, pudiendo situarse por debajo del 1% a finales de febrero.

Las últimas proyecciones están basadas sobre los datos del censo hospitalario del COVID-19 recabados hasta el 28 de junio y datos de vacunación recogidos hasta el 14 de enero de 2022

Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) estuvo a cargo de reunir el grupo de expertos que se ocupa de modelar estas proyecciones junto con el gobierno estatal. El grupo incluye a científicos de modelos de ColoradoSPH y de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Colorado en el Campus Médico Anschutz de la UC, así como expertos de la Universidad de Colorado Boulder, la Universidad de Colorado Denver y la Universidad Estatal de Colorado.

Continúe manteniéndose informado visitando covid19.colorado.gov.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

The state of Colorado continues its COVID-19 vaccination campaign with vaccine clinics throughout the state and a reminder that all Coloradans age 12 and older should receive a third vaccine dose five months after receiving their primary series. A third vaccine dose provides the highest level of protection against the COVID-19 virus and its variants.

The CDC recently updated the recommended timeline for when people can get a third Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine dose, shortening the minimum interval from six months to five months. The CDC also updated their recommendation for a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech to include adolescents age 12 to 17.  At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for adolescents aged 12-17.

Many vaccine clinics offer everything the family needs to get the highest level of protection: first and second doses, pediatric doses, and the important third dose. Flu vaccines may also be available and it is safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine on the same day. A complete listing of where you can get vaccinated is here.

There are a number of large community vaccine sites throughout the state including:

• Mesa County Public Health (510 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81504)

This clinic is in addition to the more than 1,800 vaccine providers across the state. 

Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants and to help avoid the worst outcomes (severe illness, hospitalization, and death) among those who do become infected. State health officials stress that all Coloradans ages 5 and older should get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Coloradans should get a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to ensure the highest level of  protection against the virus if they:

If you are immunocompromised and got three doses of Pfizer or Moderna in your primary series, you should get a fourth dose six months after your third dose. Additionally, the CDC recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5– to 11-year-olds receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second dose of Pfizer pediatric vaccine.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.