Weld County nears the top of the list for number of deaths due to COVID-19. Here’s what the experts say about it.
Weld County is inching its way closer to the top of the list of counties with the most deaths caused by COVID-19 across the state.
Bear in mind numbers are changing rapidly and there may be some temporary discrepancies between state and county data. But as of Wednesday night, Weld had the second most reported COVID-19 deaths in the state. According to county data, 13 people have died due to the virus.
El Paso County has the most reported deaths at 14, according to state data.
Despite those high numbers, several counties had more documented cases of COVID-19 than Weld, including:
Denver County: 586 reported cases, 8 reported deaths
Arapahoe County: 381 reported cases, 7 reported deaths
Jefferson County: 356 reported cases, 7 reported deaths
Weld had 331 documented cases as of Wednesday, according to county data, with state data reporting 293 cases.
So, why is that?
Eric Aakko, spokesperson for the Weld County Department of Health and Environment, said much of it has to do with where the outbreaks in Weld happened.
Two nursing homes in Weld County suffered from a COVID-19 outbreak, according to a report by the Denver Post, those being Fairacres Manor and Centennial Healthcare Center.
Facilities in Larimer, El Paso, Chaffee, Arapahoe, Adams and Jefferson counties saw outbreaks as well.
Aakko confirmed the Post’s report in an interview with the NoCo Optimist.
“Is it because of the facilities? Not necessarily,” Aakko said. “A number of people who did pass were in their 70s and their 90s with underlying health conditions.”
The outbreak is still under investigation by county epidemiologists, Aakko said, but it “could be more people who are at higher risk were exposed.”
El Paso County has a similar story. According to a report by the Colorado Sun, the virus spread amongst seniors and vulnerable people, primarily at the Colorado Springs Bridge Center and a long-term senior care facility.
By the numbers statewide
3,342 confirmed positive cases
620 hospitalized
50 counties
18,645 people tested
80 deaths
17 outbreaks at residential and non-hospital health care facilities