Delta Variant Spreading In Colorado: What We Know So Far

Colorado public health officials continue to investigate the spread of the Delta variant, which was first detected in India in December 2020. More than 530 cases of the variant have been reported in 28 Colorado counties, according to state public health data.

Early studies show the variant is more infectious and causes more severe disease — it has around double the hospitalization rate of the Alpha variant, Colorado public health officials said.

The Delta variant has hit Mesa County the hardest — more than 280 cases have been reported in the county, the data shows.

“The proportion of Colorado cases due to the Delta variant has been rapidly increasing; now estimated to be greater than 50% of cases,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“We are taking extra precautions and turning to the CDC for additional support to make sure we know how and why the Delta variant is spreading in Western Colorado. Getting fully vaccinated is the best protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.”

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Delta variant cases reported in each county:

• Mesa: 288
• El Paso: 103
• Garfield: 27
• Douglas: 20
• Moffat: 18
• Arapahoe: 12
• Boulder: 12
• Adams: 10
• Denver: 6
• Weld: 6
• Gunnison: 5
• Fremont: 3
• Montrose: 3
• San Miguel: 3
• Eagle: 2
• Jefferson: 2
• Larimer: 2
• Las Animas: 2
• Bent: 1
• Gilpin: 1
• La Plata: 1
• Pitkin: 1
• Pueblo: 1
• Rio Blanco: 1
• Routt: 1
• Saguache: 1
• Sedgwick: 1
• Teller: 1

The vaccine is effective against the Delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, Colorado public health officials said.

Gov. Jared Polis and Herlihy held a roundtable with local officials in Grand Junction Monday to discuss the spread of the Delta variant. State public health officials and a CDC team traveled to Mesa County on Tuesday to investigate the spread and offer technical support.

The first Colorado case of the Delta variant was reported May 5 in Mesa County.

>> Learn more about how to get vaccinated in Colorado here.