Colorado Times Recorder: Winter approaches in Colorado with a familiar companion in tow: concerns about increases in the number of viral respiratory illnesses. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) recently made it easier to track cases of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on a single dashboard.

The site includes regularly updated information on hospital admission rates, emergency department visits, and positivity percentages from lab testing for each of the three viruses — all reachable from a single web page. Prior to the integrated dashboard, CDPHE provided data on COVID-19 separately from data on the other respiratory viruses.

In addition, the site links to a recently created surveillance dashboard that displays data from wastewater tested for the presence of the viruses at 20 facilities around the state, along with a detailed list of FAQs about the program. The volume of viruses shed into wastewater can provide an early indication that a rise in the number of viral respiratory infections may be imminent.

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