Positive test results for COVID-19 are reported to the health department in a variety of ways for investigation and follow-up. Cases of COVID-19 are recorded as a case in the county where they permanently reside. Cases recorded here are Larimer County residents only. As we work through investigating cases originally assigned to and reported by Larimer County, they may be assigned to another county if we determine their permanent address is outside of the county.

A case may be classified as confirmed, probable, or suspect depending on the characteristics of the person when diagnosed or how they were tested.

Confirmed Case : Someone who has tested positive using a molecular amplification detection test (such as a nasal swab tested using PCR testing). This test determines if someone is currently ill and able to spread COVID-19 to others.

: Someone who has tested positive using a molecular amplification detection test (such as a nasal swab tested using PCR testing). This test determines if someone is currently ill and able to spread COVID-19 to others. Probable Case : Has COVID-19 symptoms or clinical characteristics AND epidemiologic evidence with no test confirming the diagnosis Has COVID-19 symptoms or clinical characteristics AND has tested positive using an antigen or serologic (antibody) test Has an epidemiological link based on risk from a known exposure AND has tested positive using an antigen or serologic (antibody) test Has a death certificate that lists COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or significant condition contributing to death without positive test results to confirm the diagnosis.

: Suspect Case: someone who has tested positive using a serology (antibody) test but who did not have COVID-19 symptoms or clinical characteristics. Antibodies can take several weeks to develop after being exposed so someone who has tested positive for antibodies has likely recovered and is no longer able to spread the virus at the time they are tested for antibodies.

Confirmed and probable cases are likely to be able to spread the virus at the time their test was done so these cases are investigated by public health to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Colorado, serologic testing was not available and a system to track probable cases that could not be tested due to limitations in available testing was not yet in place. Now that serologic testing and testing for active infections are now more available, suspect and probable cases are now being reported and tracked, sometimes retroactively, by public health officials.

As we are receiving a larger volume of probable and suspect cases being reported to us, a trend that is likely to continue, LCDHE has added these differentiations to our case data. This page is being updated to reflect these different case types. Larimer County continues to do a good job flattening the curve. Compared to other large counties in the state, Larimer County continues to see noticeably lower COVID-19 cases and deaths.

To protect the privacy of individuals, Larimer County will not publicly share any identifying information about COVID-19 cases. The most effective way to prevent COVID-19 is to stay home and avoid contact with everyone except for those in your household.