New COVID-19 infections in Colorado increased for the second consecutive week and hospitalizations for the virus increased on Monday, although it is too early to know if this is the start of an upward trend that accompanies the recent rise in cases.
As of Monday afternoon, 401 people were hospitalized across the state with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, an increase of 25 in one day and the highest level since March 1.
The number of people hospitalized because of the virus has reached a certain level in the past few weeks, but it jumps back and forth – so the numbers for one day don’t necessarily say much. But new cases increased by the second week, and hospitalizations generally increased or decreased cases, after a delay of one or two weeks.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 8,698 new coronavirus infections in the week ending Sunday, which was about 600 more than the previous week.
The state percentage of COVID-19 tests with positive results reached 6% for the first time since the end of January, indicating that the increase in tests is not responsible for the increase in cases. A positivity rate above 5% raises concerns that there are infections that are not being identified through testing.
The metrics suggest an increase in dissemination, rather than a fluke in numbers, said Beth Carlton, associate professor of occupational and environmental health at the Colorado School of Public Health. The increase is likely due to some combination of the state loosening its restrictions, people getting tired of taking precautions and more contagious variants of the spread of the virus, she said.
Experts disagree on whether the United States is seeing the start of a fourth wave or isolated access points. Cases are increasing in the Northeast and in the upper Midwest, and hospitalizations are also increasing in some states.
Good news is that new cases and hospitalizations are declining for people over 65, who were more likely to become seriously ill or die, Carlton said. This suggests that vaccination is having an effect, she said.
The chances of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 increase with each decade of life, so the state is unlikely to exceed the hospital’s capacity after vaccinating a significant number of elderly people, said Carlton. Still, hospitalizations are likely to increase at least a little, because young people can still be seriously ill, she said.
“We hope to see an increase in hospitalizations,” she said. “We don’t expect to have a total crisis.”
The percentage of hospitalizations involving people under 50 has increased in the last month, although the change is small enough that it is difficult to be sure that it is a trend.
UCHealth has seen the number of 20-30 year olds seeking treatment for COVID-19 in a hospital or outpatient clinic doubling since March. General hospitalizations have remained stable in the healthcare system, but there are more young people hospitalized than a year ago, said Dr. Richard Zane, director of innovation at UCHealth.
Younger people are less likely to be vaccinated and may not be taking as many precautions as older people, said Zane. The spread of more contagious variants probably also has something to do with the increase in younger people seeking care, but it is unclear whether the variants are making them sicker, he said.
“It’s too early to say,” he said.
People who have not yet been vaccinated need to continue wearing their masks in closed public places, avoid crowded buildings and limit close contact, said Carlton.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, be careful,” she said.
Since March 2020, 468,988 people in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19. So far, 25,774 have been hospitalized and 6,262 have died from the virus.
Denver Post staff writer Jessica Seaman contributed to this report.
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