COVID cases on the rise again across Colorado, doubling rates from April
DENVER (KDVR) — COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Colorado, according to data provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
As of June 22, the state is reporting 1,115 COVID cases — an 18% increase from the week prior. The state health agency also reported that as of April 20, there were only 491 reported COVID cases in the state — making the most recent numbers a 127% increase. Even using the next week’s numbers of 539 cases, COVID cases have increased by approximately 107%.
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Hospitalizations for COVID are slightly higher than in months past, according to the state’s data, after spiking in the past 12 months in November and January. The latest hospitalization numbers were reported on June 25, when 87 people were hospitalized with the virus. On April 23, the state reported 84 hospitalizations, although the next week dropped to 75.
Nationally, hospitalizations are holding steady at about 1.5 people per 100,000. However, emergency department visits have risen over 23% in the most recent week of CDC data, and there were also 1.4% more positive COVID tests nationally. Deaths also rose in the most recent week of data by about 14.3%.
However, fewer deaths have been reported statewide in the past month. In May, the state reported 19 deaths from COVID-19 and its variants. In May 2023, the state reported 56. This year in both March and April there were 36 deaths to COVID, although deaths spiked in November with 167.
Data also shows that the prominence of variants is shifting. In February, the JN.1 variant was most prominent, accounting for over 70% of the COVID tests. Now, the JN.1 variant accounts for only 16.71% of specimen collections, and a KP.3 variant accounts for over 20%.
Participating wastewater treatment facilities have been submitting two samples per week to the Colorado health department — testing wastewater can provide early warning signs to public health officials that an epidemic could start. According to the state’s data, 45 of the 54 wastewater treatment facilities reporting to the state are seeing a “steady increase” of COVID-19 in wastewater samples.
COVID-19 vaccine rates drop off
Coloradans have not been nearly as diligent in getting their completed initial series of COVID-19 immunizations plus the new Omicron dose, according to the state’s data.
The state is reporting that while 82.3% of all adults have gotten their “completed primary series,” or the initial immunization of one or two doses, while only 30.3% of Colorado’s adults have completed the primary series and obtained the Omicron dose, which wards against the Omicron variant.
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The Centers for Disease Control is recommending everyone over 6 months old receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, whether or not they’ve previously been vaccinated.
“Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated,” said Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., the CDC director, in a release.“Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season.”
UCHealth is promoting the new vaccine, noting that COVID-19 peak seasons “parallels the flu” with nearly 2,600 people a week dying from COVID in January 2024. The new vaccine will be released in August or September, and UCHealth is hoping a higher percentage of Americans will take the vaccine.
“COVID-19 is behaving a lot like the flu now. We’re seeing increases in cases in the fall and winter months. The severity is usually worse in older people and those who have underlying issues with their immune systems. That’s also true for the flu, and all of these people can get very sick,” said Dr. Michelle Barron, UCHealth’s senior medical director of infection prevention and control, in a release.
Barron said the vaccines are “very effective” and “keep people out of hospitals.”
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“They lessen infections and the severity of disease,” Barron said in a UCHealth release. “Even if you’re healthy, if you have family members or people around you who are vulnerable, getting an updated vaccine is a great way of keeping them healthy too.”
Over the last year, UCHealth says about 14% of eligible children received a COVID-19 vaccine, while only 22% of adults received the newest dose. Additionally, UCHealth reported that for adults who had to be hospitalized due to severe COVID-19, only 11% had received the most recent vaccine.
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