Two Years With COVID-19: Data and Resources About the Pandemic and Its Impact in Colorado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2022

The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) offers reports and data illuminating the COVID-19 pandemic's impact in Colorado as the state marks two years since the onset of the pandemic.

The first official case of COVID-19 in Colorado was confirmed on March 5, 2020. CHI has produced a range of publications featuring unique, Colorado-specific analysis about the pandemic's broad-reaching impacts in the two years since that date. This list of resources includes CHI's work addressing issues that reporters and other readers might be interested in exploring.

What Happened to Access to Care, Food, Housing, Job Loss, and More During the Pandemic?

The 2021 Colorado Health Access Survey, or CHAS, is a source of unique, Colorado-specific data about the impact of the pandemic on health, access to food, housing, and child care, and more. CHI's 2021 report on the CHAS, Navigating Uncharted Waters: The Pandemic, Health, and Care in Colorado (PDF), includes highlights and key data from the survey. Find links to data spreadsheets and usable infographics on our CHAS website.

How Did the Pandemic Affect the Health Care System and People's Use of Health Care?

• Fear and Missing Out: Postponed Care During COVID-19 (analysis) — Visits to health care providers dropped 25% in 2020, leading to missed diagnoses, untreated health conditions, and exacerbated inequities. This report uses unique data from the Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service, a group of Front Range health providers, and contains the following graphics:
  • Total Visit Volume by Four-Week Period Compared With Equivalent 2019 Time Frame, February 16, 2020, through January 2, 2021 (png)
  • Visit Volume by Condition Compared With Baseline, March 14, 2020 Through January 2, 2021 (png)
  • Diagnostic and Screening Test Volume Compared With Baseline, March 15, 2020 Through January 2, 2021 (png)
  • Visit Volume by Age Compared With Baseline, March 15, 2020 Through January 2, 2021 (png)
• Telemedicine in Colorado: The Jetsons, a RAPID Response to COVID-19, and the Big Questions Ahead (analysis) and Value and Impact of Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Response (CHI report for Colorado’s Office of eHealth Innovation). Reports include unique data from the Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service, showing a surge in the use of telehealth during the pandemic, especially for mental health services.
• Medicaid Surge Due to COVID-19: Financial Impacts for Hospitals (analysis)

What Were the Impacts of COVID-19 and the Economic Downturn on Coloradans' Mental Health?

• Job Loss, COVID, and Health (analysis) — People who lost jobs during the pandemic reported worse mental health outcomes, even after they got a new job. Analysis uses data from the CHAS and includes the following graphics:
  • Coloradans Who Had a Decline in Physical Health and Mental Health as a Result of the Pandemic, Coloradans Age 16+ (png)
  • Self-Reported General Health, Mental Health Status (Spring 2021) All Ages by Job Status (png)
  • COVID-Related Job Loss by Race/Ethnicity, Age, Income 2021 (png)
• Uncovering the Social Influences on Mental Health, uses data from the CHAS and includes the following graphic:
  • Percentage of People Reporting Good and Poor Mental Health, by Food Security, Housing Stability, Employment Status, and Child Care Availability, 2021 (png)
• Root Causes: Explore What Affects Mental Health in Colorado (interactive map)

What Happened to Air Quality During Stay-At-Home Orders?

• Catalyst or Challenge: COVID-19 Proved Denver Can Have Clean Air. But Can We Keep It? (CHI analysis). Report includes the following graphic:
  • Daily Percent Change of Walking, Mass Transit, and Driving in Denver (png)

What Public Health Guidance Informed the Pandemic Response?

• Metro Denver Partnership for Health COVID-19 Resources (guidance documents, best practices, and other resources)

Where Are Stimulus and Other COVID-19 Related Funding Headed?

• American Rescue Plan Act Financial Map (2021), contains the following graphic:
  • American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding for Colorado Map (png)
• Mapping Federal Funds for COVID-19 Relief (2020), includes the following graphics:
  • COVID-19 Financial Mapping Flow Chart (png)
  • Relief Funds by Direct, Indirect, and Unspecified Health Functions (FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21) (png)

Who Was Affected by Social Distancing, Who Got Vaccinated, Who Got COVID, and Where Do They Live?

• Colorado Vaccine Equity Map (last updated December 2021)
• COVID-19 Diagnoses by Census Tract (last updated July 2021)
• CHI Social Distancing Index (last updated July 2021)

What Happened When?

• COVID-19 in Colorado (analysis) (updated December 2021) includes extensive analysis of the pandemic and a COVID in Colorado Policy Timeline.

About the Colorado Health Institute

The Colorado Health Institute is a nonprofit and independent health policy research organization. CHI believes that good health policy leads to a healthier Colorado. Every day we bring research, insight, and expertise to leaders across the state, because informed decisions lead to better health for all.

Contact for the Colorado Health Institute

Joe Hanel, Communications Director, hanelj@coloradohealthinstitute.org or 720.382.7093