18 Colorado counties at risk of Stay-at-Home order, according to White House task force
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The White House Coronavirus Task Force released a report Sunday on Colorado's response to the pandemic. As cases rise rapidly across the state, 18 counties are now at risk of going back to a Stay-at-Home order.
ABC News obtained the documents Wednesday, which show Colorado in the "red zone" with increasing cases and more test positivity. Colorado has the 15th highest rate in the country for cases.
Denver, Adams and El Paso counties had the highest number of new cases over the last three weeks, accounting for 42.8 percent of new cases in the state. If cases do not stabilize soon, the task force says these counties -- and others including Pueblo and Douglas -- could see another Stay-at-Home order.
White House officials say the surges can only be identified and interrupted through proactive and increased testing and surveillance. The testing must also be done in conjunction with mask wearing, hand hygiene, physical distancing, contact tracing, and quarantine.
The report advises that "all red and orange counties must begin proactive testing of 18 to 40-year-old community members" to curb the spread.
Private gatherings and transmission among younger populations have greatly contributed to the spread of coronavirus. The task force advised colleges should have students get tested prior to going back to their families before the holidays.
Colorado has also seen "considerable success" in lowering morbidity and mortality among those who test positive. But hospitalizations will need to be mitigated to prevent more deaths, the report says.
