Colorado Coronavirus Update: 3,145 New Cases Reported

Colorado has begun to see a decline in coronavirus case rates, according to the latest public health data.

Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon, 3,145 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in Colorado, according to public health data.

As of Thursday, 300,414 people had been infected with the coronavirus in the state among 1,998,476 people who have been tested since the outbreak began, health officials confirmed. Around 16,704 people have been hospitalized.

Colorado's COVID-19 death toll:

• Deaths due to COVID-19: 3,321
• Deaths among cases: 4,226

Around 47 percent of the state's critical care ventilators were in use as of Thursday, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Around 25 percent of Colorado hospitals reported anticipating staff shortages over the next week, and 9 percent of hospitals reported anticipating ICU bed shortages.

Many Colorado counties continue to operate under 'Level Red' on the state's COVID-19 dial. Under the level, indoor dining at restaurants is prohibited, and the last call for ordering alcohol is 8 p.m.

Colorado received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday morning, and the first doses go to high-risk health care workers — those who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients for 15 minutes or more.

Kevin Londrigan, a respiratory therapist who works with COVID-19 patients in Fort Collins, received Colorado's very first vaccination.

"This is great news for our health care workers and those at highest risk in our state and the beginning of the end of the pandemic," Gov. Jared Polis said.

"This vaccine is an amazing scientific triumph for humanity and the distribution which starts today is a historic undertaking.

"We still have a ways to go and Coloradans should double down now and continue to do what we know works in the fight against this virus and that's wearing masks, physically distancing, and avoiding personal gatherings."

Colorado is preparing to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine in three phases over the next nine months.