It's a good thing the school year is almost over: The latest report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lists 58 new COVID-19 outbreaks at K-12 schools, the most in a single week since the department began releasing weekly outbreak lists over a year ago.
Of the 859 outbreaks currently under active investigation by the CDPHE, K-12 schools account for 251, or just over 29 percent of the total. That appears to be a record, too.
The CDPHE considers an entity an outbreak after two or more COVID-19 cases among residents, staffers or other people connected to a specific location are confirmed within a fourteen-day period, or two or more cases of respiratory illness with an onset of symptoms within a fourteen-day period are paired with at least one additional COVID-19 diagnosis. The vast majority of businesses and facilities identified as outbreaks remain open while working with the department to monitor symptoms and prevent future infections.