With two additional deaths added to Larimer County's cumulative tally, the county has now recorded 173 deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CDC believes that the new variant strain could be more contagious than previous strains of the novel coronavirus, but does not lead to more severe symptoms.
The Larimer County Department of Health added 3 new COVID-19 related deaths to its cumulative tally on Monday (Jan. 4), bringing the county's death toll since the start of the pandemic to 154.
The deaths accounted for in December make up 46% of all COVID-19 related deaths in Larimer County and equate to more than three times the 22 deaths reported in November, the county's second deadliest month of the pandemic.
In light of the progress the state is making with fighting COVID-19, the governor has requested that CDPHE move all counties in Red on the dial to Orange-level restrictions, effective Monday, Jan. 4.
According to data from the Larimer County Department of Health's website, although more than half of those who died were 85 years of age or older, 3 of the deaths reported since Sunday have been Fort Collins women under 60 — a 58-year-old, a 47-year-old and a 30-year-old.
December has proven to be Larimer County's deadliest month in terms of COVID-19 deaths, as there have been over 30 deaths in the county since December 1.
Another COVID-19 related death was added to Larimer County's cumulative tally on Sunday (Dec. 20), bringing the county's total to 31 deaths in December alone, and 112 since the beginning of the pandemic.
On Friday (Dec. 18), state officials confirmed that Colorado will receive thousands fewer COVID-19 vaccines than originally anticipated in the second shipment of pharmaceutical company Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.