There are now 16,651,589 coronavirus cases in the U.S. and 302,689 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The latest COVID-19 numbers in Colorado (Updated on Dec. 15):

– 291,104 cases, including 42,850 in Denver County

– 1,980,707 people tested

– 3,969 deaths among cases, including 608 in Denver County

– 1.36% fatality rate in the state

– At least 1,294 active outbreaks

The latest local COVID-19 news:

– The U.S. Supreme Court orders relief from COVID-19 capacity limits for Weld church, to minimal effect. 

– Enrollment in Colorado’s public schools drops for first time in more than 30 years over the COVID-19 pandemic. 

– Colorado’s Catholic bishops opine on whether COVID-19 vaccines are ‘morally acceptable.’

– New state program may loosen COVID-19 capacity limits on specially certified businesses. 

– Injunction against Weld County Sheriff over pandemic protocols among inmates extended to February.

– Colorado Medical Society launches COVID-19 vaccine awareness campaign to increase public knowledge and acceptance.

– Coloradans receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday as the first of 46,800 people in the state to get access to the shipment.

– Photos: The first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Colorado on Monday morning.

– After eight months, the federal court dismisses a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. 

– UCHealth uses a new, faster COVID-19 testing system as the state’s demand for testing continues to rise.

– Gov. Jared Polis says Colorado was more COVID-cautious than ‘many states’ over Thanksgiving holiday; cases ‘leveling out’ in state. 

– Firefighters ask the state to put them alongside health workers at the top of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution list. 

– Gov. Jared Polis, as part of a bipartisan group of western governors, writes to U.S. senators to advocate for equitable COVID-19 relief among states. 

– Denver deploys $4 million more in COVID-19 relief toward rental assistance, small businesses and workers.

– COVID-19 Vaccines in Colorado: The answers you need regarding the availability and process for getting a coronavirus vaccine.