140 deaths:
Confirmed coronavirus cases have nearly reached 5,000 in Colorado.
The spreading coronavirus in Colorado had claimed 140 lives as of Sunday, nearly triple the toll a week ago, and state health officials reported 4,950 confirmed cases with 924 people hospitalized.
State health officials said 25,773 people have been tested in Colorado. They estimate four to 10 times more people in Colorado may be infected with the virus than testing has confirmed, meaning as many as 49,500 could be infected.
This highly-contagious virus that attacks the respiratory system is spreading despite increasingly restrictive measures to try to contain it.
Most recently, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and White House officials recommended wearing face masks when citizens leave their homes to get food at grocery stores or take walks.
A week ago in Colorado, state health officials counted 2,307 confirmed cases, 48 deaths and 326 hospitalizations. Fewer than 15,000 residents had been tested.
Colorado health authorities were bracing for an anticipated surge in cases that they’ve said could strain medical resources and hospitals with the state lacking up to 10,000 ventilators. State officials say they’re working to obtain more ventilators and protective equipment for heath workers to care for incoming COVID19 patients.
The global coronavirus pandemic has led to confirmed cases in 54 of Colorado’s 64 counties Sunday. The state’s tally indicated 60% of the 140 deaths were men and that the virus has spread inside 37 nursing homes and other residential health facilities.
State authorities have ordered all Colorado residents to stay at home. Non-essential travel and business has been prohibited. Bars, restaurants, ski areas, hair salons and other non-essential businesses are closed.
Rather than try to obtain medical masks, Polis on Friday instructed residents to use makeshift cloth masks, part of an effort to prioritize protection for health workers.
Public parks in Denver and other cities at times have been overrun. Denver officials have begun to close off streets to vehicles in an emergency effort to ensure sufficient public space for safe walking.