SAN LUIS VALLEY – As of Monday, July 13, the San Luis Valley Public Health Partnership announced the total number of cumulative SLV COVID-19 cases to be 456. This is an increase of 36 new cases in the Valley over the past two weeks.

Colorado’s positive tests began to increase due to what health officials stated was caused by more public interaction. Statewide we are seeing the nationwide trend of the 20-29 age group seeing the highest number of positive cases among all age groups. In Colorado the 20-29 year old age group has reported 6,898 positive cases with 356 hospitalized. As would be expected, the younger age groups are seeing a less percentage of those being positive needing hospitalization. The over 50 age groups have the highest rate of hospitalization and deaths.

As of July 14, the seven day average for positive tests in Colorado increased the past week from 4.9 percent to 6.5 percent. Within the San Luis Valley we continue to have higher positive test percentages than the state average. Of the 409 tests conducted in Saguache County 25.4 percent came back positive. Of the 162 tests in Costilla County 13.6 percent were positive. In Alamosa County 2,059 tests have been conducted with 10 percent being positive. Mineral County has seen an increase in positive cases with 199 tests conducted 8.5 percent were positive. For Rio Grande County 1,572 tests have been made with 5.3 percent coming back positive. In Conejos County there have been 352 tests given with 6.5 percent being positive.

Texas and Arizona opened up too quickly and are beginning to close down some businesses due to rampid outbreaks of COVID-19. According to data July 13, 2020, from the COVID-19 Tracking Project, in Arizona 26.6 percent of COVID-19 tests are coming back positive. In Texas 17.7 percent of tests are positive and Utah is at 10.9 percent.

As of July 13, there have been 456 total cumulative cases in the San Luis Valley with 33 known active cases. Forty-one (41) total people have been hospitalized, and 413 have completed their isolation period.  The SLV COVID-19 death total is 11. Alamosa County reported an additional COVID-19 related deathon July 10. Alamosa County has the most reported cases with 207, followed by Saguache with 105, Rio Grande County at 82, Costilla County 22, Conejos County 23 and Mineral County with 17.