Colorado health officials are warning of another wave of infections as new cases of coronavirus in the state jump to levels not seen since January, and as provinces begin to loosen virus restrictions.
According to the New York Times database, the state reports an average of 1,661 new cases per day, up 18 percent in the past two weeks. Hospitalizations rose by 19 percent in the same period. The deaths due to the virus, which tends to stay behind infections for a few weeks, have increased slightly.
“We see what appears to be the beginning of a fourth wave of Covid-19 in Colorado,” Scott Bookman, the state’s Covid-19 incident leader, said at a news conference Thursday. He urged people to be vigilant to be tested as more of the state’s population is vaccinated.
As there are rising consequences in many parts of the country, health officials say the increase has been fueled in part by the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, particularly the B.1.1.7 variant first found in Britain. It is estimated that the variant is about 60 percent more contagious and 67 percent more deadly than the original version. B.1.1.7 is now the most common source of new cases of coronavirus in the United States, and detection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that ‘variants of concern’, including B.1.1.7 and a variant which in California, CAL.20C, now accounts for more than half of all new cases of coronavirus in Colorado.
Even as matters increased, the state on Friday ended its ‘switching system’ that required provinces to place capacity constraints on restaurants, offices and gyms, depending on the number of cases, positive test rates and hospitalizations in those areas. That change shifted control of pandemic regulations to local provinces, prompting public health experts’ concern that the move could lead to an increase in cases and hospitalizations. Several provinces have seen an increase in cases and hospitalizations, such as the provinces of El Paso and Douglas, have said they do not intend to impose restrictions outside the state.
The state still requires provinces to comply with its mask mandate – which will remain in place until May 2 – and with restrictions on mass mass rallies.
“I am concerned that without policy and behavior, we will have to delay the transfer,” said Elizabeth Carlton, an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, “continuing to increase hospitalizations in Covid-19 among those who have not yet been vaccinated.”
“It worries me,” said Dr. Bill Burman, director of Denver Public Health, said about provinces that prefer to be lax with restrictions. Denver eased certain regulations on Friday, but imposed certain restrictions, such as capacity restrictions on pubs, offices and retail stores.
An analysis published this month and led by researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health found that postponing policy changes at the state or local level until mid-May would prevent a large number of deaths and hospitalizations. According to the report, mobility in the state is also reaching its highest levels since the onset of the pandemic.
Civil servants defended the change last week, pointing to the relatively low number of hospitalizations and deaths compared to the peaks seen in December. Government Democrat Jared Polis said at a news conference on Tuesday that he was confident provinces could take greater responsibility, but insisted people remain cautious.
“I think the number of cases and hospitalizations will unfortunately increase before it goes down,” he said. Polis said, adding that he hopes it will be a short highlight as more people are vaccinated.
About 41 percent of the state’s population received at least one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine, and 25 percent were fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Government officials have said they will continue to monitor hospitalization levels. Under the governor’s public health order, the state can require provinces to impose additional restrictions if their residents’ hospitalizations threaten to exceed 85 percent of hospital capacity.