Larimer County's overall risk rating remains high with a positivity rating of 5.7% and an overall prevalence of 331 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks.
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.
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.
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.
The Larimer County Department of Health has recorded 103 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, 23 of which occurred within the first ten days of December.