Boulder County Public Health announced Tuesday that the county is seeing an increase in new coronavirus cases among all age groups, putting it at greater risk of being forced to move into Safer-at-Home level 3 restrictions in the future.

The county is in the red zone for new cases, with more than 350 cases per 100,000 people, a news release from the department states, and the positivity rate is in the yellow zone, between 5% and 10%. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment monitors these metrics to determine what restriction level a county is designated in its statewide COVID-19 dial framework.

The countys increase in cases could affect area businesses, the news release notes, because the state and county could decide that further mitigation measures are necessary. Occupancy limits, including whether certain businesses may remain open, are based on the number of new cases, the positivity percentage and hospitalization rates.

Although we have seen a downward trend in the number of new cases among 18-22-year-old residents over the last week, we are seeing increases in cases in all other age groups, Boulder County Public Health Executive Director Jeff Zayach stated in the release. This downward trend in the 18-22-year-old age group is a good indication that the strategies weve implemented are starting to work.

The University of Colorado Boulder switched to fully remote learning on Wednesday. On Thursday, Boulder County issued an order halting gatherings for Boulder college-age residents in order to slow the spread of the virus, but the order was amended Monday to allow groups of up to two people to ensure safety.

The health department on Wednesday will submit a formal mitigation plan to the state health department and on Thursday the two will meet to determine if any additional mitigation measures including additional orders or further gatherings restrictions may be necessary, the release states.

This is a heads-up to the community to remain diligent in following personal steps to protect themselves, Zayach stated. While the number of new cases in each age group remain low, this increase is concerning. I want to stress how critically important it is for each and every individual in the community to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by socially distancing, wearing a face covering, limiting gatherings, and staying home when sick.

Public Health Spokeswoman Chana Goussetis said the department is confident in its plan.

We are naturally concerned about the possibility of the county moving to tighter restrictions of safer-at-home level 3, she said. That said, we feel confident that the mitigation steps weve put in place are sound and were hopeful we will continue to see the downward trend in new cases.

Boulder police issued five citations for public health order violations between Thursday and Sunday, according to spokesperson Shannon Aulabaugh. Three of the citations were issued to people between ages 18 and 22, though none were issued on Boulders University Hill, she said.

Boulder on Friday issued an emergency order prohibiting alcohol sales at bars, restaurants and clubs after 10 p.m. A news release from the city stated new cases were on the rise for nearly three weeks in the county, with the vast majority due to transmission among people 18-22, particularly those attending the University of Colorado Boulder and living in the University Hill neighborhood.

CU Boulder Professor and epidemiologist Matt McQueen said the current downward trend in 18- to 22-year-olds is likely due to students following the recommended self-quarantine announced Sept. 15.

The adherence among students to public health guidelines combined with the additional measures announced last week continue to make an impact on the recent decrease in cases, he said. The progress is encouraging, but we need this trend to continue. We will need to have everyone strengthen their commitment to slowing down the spread of COVID-19.

Goussetis said the department has not determined why other age groups other than college-aged residents are seeing a rise in cases.

Of course, the more people with the disease in the community, the more likely it will spread if isolation and quarantine requirements arent followed, she said, adding that public health is not seeing a pattern of the new cases tied to any geographic area.

Also on Tuesday, the county reported 36 new coronavirus cases and CU Boulders online dashboard showed 32 coronavirus cases returned from Monday testing.

The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the county since mid-March is now 4,452. Of those, 209 have been hospitalized and 1,042 have recovered. There are 198 disease investigations in progress and the death toll remains at 79.

On Monday, CU Boulder administered 165 coronavirus tests and 1,055 saliva-based tests monitoring tests. The dashboard states 167 isolations spaces are in use, or 27% of the available units. Since Aug. 24, 4,485 on-campus tests have been administered with 1,051 returning positive, and 25,743 saliva-based monitoring tests have been performed.

The five-day average of new daily cases in the county on Tuesday is 39.8. One week ago, the five-day average was 155.4.

Statewide, there have been 70,025 positive or probable cases. There have been 12,046 deaths among the cases, and of those, there have been 1,952 deaths due to the coronavirus. There have been 7,588 people hospitalized. Of Colorados roughly 5.7 million population, 902,242 people have been tested for the virus.

Some data may be missing due to ongoing disease investigations and reporting delays, the health department notes.

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Boulder County now in red zone for new cases as positive tests increase across all ages - The Daily Camera