Coronavirus Update In Lakewood: 730 Cases Confirmed

LAKEWOOD, CO — As of Tuesday, 730 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in Lakewood since the outbreak began, health officials confirmed. There have been 1,882 cases (the number includes both probable and confirmed cases) and 130 deaths in Jefferson County.

Around 34 percent of Jeffco cases are in Lakewood, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

Number of Jeffco cases in surrounding municipalities, as of Monday:

• Arvada (Jeffco count only): 502 cases
• Westminster: 79 cases
• Golden: 176 cases
• Edgewater: 35 cases

Around 43 percent of the people who've been infected in the county likely contracted the virus in the community, but it remains unclear how they were infected, data show. Around 33 percent were infected by "known exposure to a COVID-19 case" — usually a family member, Jeffco public health officials said. Fewer than 2 percent of Jeffco cases were linked to recent travel, and around 24 percent of cases remain under investigation.

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Under the safer-at-home order, there is more flexibility for businesses to open if they are following social distancing guidelines. Critical businesses are open and limited non-critical businesses are operating with strict precautions in place.

At-risk people, such as those 65 and older, should continue to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, health officials said.

Gatherings in both public and private spaces of more than 10 people are prohibited under the new order, and those who do gather with 10 or fewer people are urged to wear masks and follow social distancing rules.

Colorado now has enough coronavirus tests available to allow anyone with symptoms to get tested, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday. Frontline workers who have no symptoms are also encouraged to undergo testing.

"Our message has changed," Polis said in a news conference outside a Stride clinic in Jefferson County. "Previously those who were sick were asked to stay home, but there's now enough tests available for anyone with symptoms."

There are 32 free testing clinics in our state. Colorado's goal is to increase testing to between 8,500 and 10,000 tests per day, Polis said.

>> Information about testing center locations and hours can be found here.

By May 25, Polis said he hopes to have enough data on the spread of the virus to decide whether it's safe enough to reopen restaurants. He also urged municipalities to consider closing sidewalks and streets so that restaurants can follow social distancing guidelines.

School districts across Colorado are working with health officials to develop safe plans for reopening in September, the governor said.

Denver, Arapahoe and Weld counties consistently have the highest overall number of cases in the state; however, Morgan, Logan, Gunnison and Eagle counties consistently have the highest case rates per 100,000 people.

>> Which Coloradans Are Staying Home: Updates By County

As of Tuesday afternoon, 22,482 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in Colorado among 131,837 people who have been tested since the outbreak began, health officials confirmed. Around 3,955 people have been hospitalized, and the death toll among people who tested positive for COVID-19 has reached 1,257.

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