Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Colorado, with Gov. Jared Polis warning on Tuesday that nearly a quarter of the state’s hospital beds are now occupied by people infected with the disease.
Polis, at a briefing with reporters at the governor’s mansion in downtown Denver, said that hospitalizations because of COVID-19 have reached 417. Colorado has about 1,800 total hospital beds, including ones that are needed for people suffering from other ailments and injuries.
The governor said the trend is worrisome because Colorado’s health care system could be overwhelmed if it continues.
COVID-19 IN COLORADO
The latest from the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado:
- MAP: Known cases in Colorado.
- TESTING: Here’s where to find a community testing site. The state is now encouraging anyone with symptoms to get tested.
- STORY: Denver requires mask-wearing outdoors, limits gathering to five people as coronavirus cases rise
“The modeling data continues to be alarming if we don’t make a change,” Polis said.
Colorado’s seven-day average of new coronavirus cases — at just under 1,000 — has eclipsed anything the state has seen since the start of the pandemic.
While there is more testing happening now than at any time during Colorado’s battle with the disease, the state’s test positivity rate is above 5%, indicating the virus is spreading at an alarming rate and it’s not just that more cases are being identified. Also, hospitalizations, at 417, are at their highest level since May 23.
Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state’s top epidemiologist, said the increase in cases and hospitalization is “rapid.”
Herlihy said if the situation doesn’t change in Colorado, the state could exceed its record peak of coronavirus hospitalizations — 888 — set in the spring by mid November.
Currently, Colorado’s estimated “R-naught” value, a measurement of how many people each COVID-19 patient spreads the disease to, is above 1.5, meaning that there is exponential growth of the virus.
Polis on Tuesday announced a new campaign, called “Step Up Colorado,” encouraging Coloradans to wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidlines.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
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