Boulder County nears Level Blue

Requirements not yet met

Boulder County is nearing requirements for the less restrictive Level Blue, but public health of ficials say it’s still too early to know when the county’s current Level Yellow status could change.

The county on Tuesday reported one new death from the coronavirus and 38 new cases, pushing the total case number to more than 19,000. The county also released data on the number of reinfections, following the state’s announcement Monday that it was adding 822 cases of second infections to its online dashboard.

Angela Simental, Boulder County Public Health acting communications manager, said the person who died was in their 80s and was not a resident at a long-term care facility. The person’s death brings the county’s total death toll to 247. The number of new cases reported Tuesday brings the county’s total number of cases to 19,003. There were 21 people being treated at Boulder County hospitals because of COVID-19 as of Tuesday. To date, there have been a total of 577 residents hospitalized, Boulder County Public Health data showed. The seven-day average percent positivity rate was 2.5%.

County closes in on Level Blue

“The county is still in Level Yellow, but getting closer to Level Blue,” said Mike Stratton, Boulder County Public Health communications specialist.

According to the state’s COVID dial, Stratton said Boulder County is in the blue metric for one-week incidences and also for the seven-day average test positivity. The county, however, remains in the yellow metric for 10 days of declining or stable hospitalizations.

“These designations are totally up to the state, but as we understand it, we will need to be in the blue for all three categories for seven days, though there is possibility there might be some flexibility,” Stratton wrote in an email. “Things are looking good, but it is a little too early to predict when we might actually change levels — assuming, of course, that ever yone does their par t to keep the virus in check in the county.”

COVID-19 vaccine increase expected; state reports reinfections

Gov. Jared Polis announced in a news conference Tuesday that the state met its goal to vaccinate 70% of people 70 and older by the end of Februar y. Polis also said the federal COVID-19 vaccine supply was greater this week and that Colorado was expecting to receive an increase of more than 11,500 doses for about