The total new COVID-19 outbreaks announced by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is less than half the size of last week's list. But this upbeat development is tempered by the number of outbreaks involving children and younger teens, a demographic for which no vaccine is available at this time. The entries also include the state's first "bus outbreak" — in this case, an outbreak on a school bus.
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.