For much of the pandemic, Colorado has been able to avoid the national spotlight. Hospitalizations stayed low relative to other states, and the COVID-19 test positivity remained under the recommended 5% set by the World Health Organization.
However, cases have recently increased at an alarming rate, as has the positivity rate. Some of the rise in cases can be attributed to testing backlog: An additional 1,540 positive cases gathered by the Kaiser Permanente system between October 1 and October 22 were added all at once to the state's online case count on October 24. But even accounting for that data entry delay, there is no denying the COVID-19 outlook in Colorado is worsening as we approach the holiday season.
As of October 26, the seven-day moving average of new cases is 1,377. The statewide positivity rate over the last week is 6.67%.
According to data analysis from NBC News, Colorado has experienced the fourth highest percentage increase in coronavirus cases over the last two weeks.