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.
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.
Until recently, the state s weekly outbreak reports had been fairly stable, even though the number of new outbreaks had plateaued at a level higher than health officials liked, at 75 on March 24.