Colorado COVID hospitalizations drop — but cases could stay elevated

Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are falling quick. However officers warn that case counts might stay elevated — and underreported — as folks get reinfected after earlier waves.

By the numbers: The state noticed a 14% drop in COVID hospitalizations this week in comparison with final, with 268 beds taken as of Tuesday. Outbreaks have additionally dipped barely, from 390 to 385.

• In the meantime, the state’s seven-day positivity charge is hovering round 9% — almost a 1% drop from the week prior.

Sure, however: Well being officers warn that instances are undercounted, skewing whether or not ranges are really trending downward, how widespread the virus is and what which means for hospitals.

The large image: The uncertainty comes at a precarious time, as youngsters put together to return to high school this fall and cooler climate packs folks indoors.

What they’re saying: The “problem” with projecting infections is that many individuals who caught COVID in the course of the December and January wave “are getting reinfected,” Talia Quandelacy, an assistant professor of epidemiology on the Colorado College of Public Well being, instructed the Denver Submit.

• Different variables — together with how shortly youngsters get vaccinated and the way quickly the virus mutates — are additional complicating the autumn forecast.

What to look at: The Biden administration plans to start rolling out up to date COVID booster photographs subsequent month, Axios’ Shawna Chen and Caitlin Owens report.

• The retooled formulation are anticipated to offer stronger safety towards the brand new Omicron subvariant BA.5 — essentially the most transmissible evolution of the virus but.