Jefferson County Communities With Highest Coronavirus Case Rates

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — More than 11,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Jefferson County, and 834 people have been hospitalized, according to public health data.

As of Friday, 346 people have died in the county, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

Neighborhoods in the county with the highest case rates per 1,000 people:

• Leyden: 43.78; 142 cases
• Charles Whitlock Rec Park and Morse Park area: 40.39; 245 cases
• Skyline: 33.68; 375 cases
• Okane Park: 33.49; 786 cases
• Northeast Lakewood: 30.46; 1,062 cases
• Homestead Park and Columbine: 28.97; 290 cases
• Mount Carbon Park and Westgate: 28.44; 198 cases
• Whisper Creek: 28.19; 154 cases
• Apel Bacher Park: 25.03; 57 cases
• Highlands: 24.25; 159
• South Lakewood: 23.94; 1,168

>> A neighborhood coronavirus rates map can be found here.

Among Jeffco municipalities, Edgewater has the highest coronavirus rate (29.85), followed by Wheat Ridge (26.91) and Lakewood (24.38).

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Jefferson County has shifted to Level Orange — formerly 'Level 3' — on Colorado's COVID-19 Dial amid a surge of cases.

"We were hoping we could avoid these new restrictions, but unfortunately cases have continued to increase in Jeffco and across the state," said Margaret Huffman, director of Community Health Services at Jefferson County Public Health.

"At the same time, we recognize that this has been such a long event, and we are all experiencing different levels of exhaustion," she said.

"It's important to remember all the reasons we have been working so hard to keep ourselves, loved ones and community healthy. Whether it's to be able to enjoy celebrations together sooner, to protect our healthcare workers who are coping with burnout, or to help keep our schools and favorite businesses open, we have so many reasons to pull together to save lives."

Level Orange includes the following capacity restrictions:

• 25 percent or 50 people at restaurants, places of worship and non-critical manufacturing
• Offices and retail: 25 percent
• 25 percent or 25 people at gyms/fitness centers (groups of up to 10 outdoors), personal services and limited health care settings
• 25 percent or 50 people, whichever is fewer, with space calculator at indoor events
• 25 percent or 75 people, whichever is fewer with space calculator at outdoor events
• 25 percent or 10 people at outdoor guided services
• Virtual or outdoors in groups of less than 10 at group sports and camps

While personal gatherings will continue to be limited to 10 people from no more than two households —with face coverings and social distancing required indoors and when within 6 feet of others — many public health officials are urging residents to avoid all gatherings.