STATE HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THE DELTA VARIANT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS IS BEHIND A DRAMATIC SPIKE IN CASE NUMBERS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN COLORADO.
AT THE SAME TIME... THE CDC SAYS THE VARIANT ISHIGHLY CONTAGIOUS ANDFUELING A SHARP INCREASE IN INFECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE GETTING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF THE VARIANT... WITH STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST RACHEL HERLIHY.
((INFO))
-- About 360 people were hospitalized in Colorado because of coronavirus on Monday, up about 100 over last week.
--More than 95% of new cases in Colorado are believed to be among the delta variant, which was first identified in India.
-- Current State Positivity Rate: 7.15%
-- 578,276 total cases in Colorado since start of pandemic
-- 7,218 total deaths in Colorado due to COVID-19 since start of pandemic