Some Colorado hospitals are taking new steps to help prevent becoming overwhelmed by a surge in coronavirus patients as current statewide hospitalizations for Covid-19 are expected to surpass the April peak in the next two or three days.
The move comes as worsening conditions led the state to impose stricter public health rules on three more metro counties—Boulder, Broomfield and Jefferson—and Denver officials have confirmed they’re considering imposing a citywide curfew in an effort to avoid a stay-at-home order.
Yesterday, 850 people were hospitalized statewide with confirmed Covid-19 infections, the highest number since April 24. The number of hospitalizations in Colorado peaked at 888 on April 14.
Colorado Public Health says that if transmission of Covid-19 continues at the current level, then Colorado’s hospitals will exceed capacity in their intensive-care units by late December—or sooner if people gather during the holidays.
Colorado recorded 2,600 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. The percentage of tests coming back positive over the past seven days in 9.31 percent. Chaffee County on Tuesday reported a 2-week positivity rate of 3.73 percent.
