More Coloradans now hospitalized with COVID than at any point in 2021

Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are higher than they’ve been astatine immoderate clip since we bid 2020 a less-than-fond farewell, and astir 90% of intensive-care beds successful the authorities are full.

As of Thursday, 982 radical were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, which was the highest fig since Dec. 31. At the highest connected Dec. 2, determination were 1,841 radical hospitalized with confirmed cases.

Scott Bookman, the state’s COVID-19 incidental commander, asked anyone who is eligible and hasn’t gotten vaccinated to get the COVID-19 and seasonal flu shots, to trim strain connected hospitals.

About 78% of radical hospitalized for COVID-19 successful Colorado are unvaccinated.

Two weeks ago, Colorado had astir 166 caller cases for each 100,000 people, and was doing amended than the bulk of states, authorities epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. As of Thursday, the complaint had accrued to 268 cases per 100,000 people, which was the 14th-highest complaint successful the country, she said.

That reflects some expanding cases successful Colorado and an improving concern successful the South.

“That’s a truly important alteration for us,” she said during a quality briefing Friday.

New cases roseate 16% past week, aft climbing 5% the week before, Herlihy said. There’s immoderate denotation this week mightiness beryllium a spot better, but it’s going to instrumentality respective weeks of dependable improvements earlier Colorado tin accidental the worst is over, she said.

While Herlihy inactive referred to the concern arsenic a precocious plateau, she acknowledged caller increases could beryllium the commencement of different spike. Generally, respiratory viruses dispersed much efficiently successful the winter, though SARS-CoV-2 hasn’t ever played by those rules, she said.

“This is 1 of those cases wherever my epi(demiology) crystal shot isn’t precise clear,” she said.

Cases are highest successful children betwixt 6 and 11, who aren’t eligible for vaccination, and those betwixt 12 and 17, who are, Herlihy said. They’re besides peculiarly expanding connected the Eastern Plains, successful the southwest counties and successful the San Luis Valley, she said.

Bookman urged radical who haven’t been vaccinated to either get the Pfizer changeable by Thursday oregon the Johnson & Johnson changeable by Nov. 11 to guarantee they’re afloat protected by Thanksgiving. It takes astir 2 weeks aft the last changeable for the assemblage to equine an immune response.

“We truly privation to marque definite radical are reasoning ahead,” helium said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that unvaccinated radical get tested successful the days earlier and aft they travel, oregon enactment disconnected nonessential trips. All radical request to show themselves for symptoms and deterioration masks successful indoor spaces, similar airports and trains, the CDC said.

People tin besides support themselves by wearing masks and practicing societal distancing during their gatherings; moving events extracurricular oregon opening windows to summation ventilation; requiring everyone to get tested successful advance; limiting gatherings to vaccinated adults; and hosting smaller events, Herlihy said.

“We privation individuals to support themselves, support their families,” she said.