{"id":35942,"date":"2020-11-13T16:13:03","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T23:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=35942"},"modified":"2024-07-18T15:25:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T21:25:52","slug":"what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-in-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado seeing its ‘darkest days;’ governor warns people to limit gatherings to immediate household"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"COVID-19
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to set records in Colorado. Dr. Abbey Lara tends to patients in an ICU room at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital that now holds two patients as hospitalizations have skyrocketed. Lara is pleading with people to do the “easy thing,” and wear masks and limit social gatherings. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor’s note: For the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine information, please click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Colorado, like the rest of the country, could soon run out of ICU beds as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to set records, according to Colorado’s governor and top state health officials.<\/p>\n

“These are our darkest days as a nation. These are our darkest days as a state,” Gov. Jared Polis said during a press conference on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Medical experts have been begging people to stay home and to stay out of bars and restaurants as the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 continues to rise. Meanwhile, the state’s public health officials are again planning to set up emergency hospitals at the Colorado Convention Center and at two other locations in Pueblo and Denver.<\/p>\n

Polis said Coloradans should not put anyone in jeopardy \u2013 especially older family members \u2013 by holding Thanksgiving gatherings since the virus that causes COVID-19 is now spreading so fast and so widely that 1 in 58 people now have it in Adams County and 1 in 110 people throughout Colorado have the virus.<\/p>\n

UCHealth leaders have seen the number of people hospitalized<\/a> for COVID-19 skyrocket from 33 patients in September to 360 patients as of Nov. 18.<\/p>\n

Dr. Abbey Lara<\/a> is double-board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine, so she\u2019s on the front lines of caring for the most gravely ill patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re sick with COVID-19 and you can\u2019t breathe, we are the ones who are taking care of you,\u201d said Lara, who cares for patients at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> on the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lara also is the daughter of parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and Lara became the first in her family to graduate from college, then from medical school, then to become an Associate Professor of Medicine in Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lara is seeing far too many people of color who are critically ill with COVID-19 in the hospital. Latinos and African Americans have been hit disproportionately hard during the pandemic. Lara and fellow doctors also are seeing many more young people who thought COVID-19 was no big deal and now are in hospitals, afraid they\u2019re going to die.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, approximately 20% of our patients being admitted for COVID related disease are in the 20-to-29 age group. That\u2019s a higher percentage than what we saw during the first surge and that\u2019s very concerning,\u201d Lara said.<\/p>\n

She and other medical providers are begging people to change their behavior now to dramatically slow the spread of the virus. Otherwise, infections and hospitalizations will continue to skyrocket.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are committed to coming to work every day and to providing the best care of patients, but we\u2019re human too, and we have a limited capacity. Pandemic fatigue is real, and it is affecting everyone, including the front-line health care workers in a very personal way,\u201d Lara said.<\/p>\n

She wants people to know that they can halt the spread of the virus, and every single person can take simple steps to save lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWearing a mask is incredibly easy. It\u2019s easier than putting on a seat belt. And wearing a mask can prevent something that is incredibly hard\u2019 \u2014 getting admitted into the hospital, being critically ill in the ICU on life support. It can prevent a death. Why not do the easy thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"COVID-19
Dr. Abbey Lara is one of the doctors who is caring for patients in ICUs that are fast filling up with COVID-19 patients again in Colorado. Lara is one of many doctors who is pleading with people to do more to fight the pandemic. “It’s easier to wear a mask than to put on a seat belt,” said Lara. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lara and her colleagues are answering your questions related to COVID-19. Their goal: helping you stay safe and avoid getting COVID-19 or spreading it to others as we all go through this very difficult third wave of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

What you should know about coronavirus and COVID-19 in Colorado<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s happening with COVID-19 now?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Colorado and many other states are shattering daily records for COVID-19 infections while hospitalizations are higher now than they were during the worst peaks of the pandemic in the spring. <\/a>Click here<\/a> to read more about the dangerous new spike in cases.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe virus is far more dangerous now than in the summer. People are exhausted so they\u2019re hanging out with neighbors and friends,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Richard Zane<\/a>, executive director of emergency services at\u00a0UCHeath University of Colorado Hospital<\/a>, and UCHealth\u2019s Chief Innovation Officer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing people of all ages who are coming in critically ill,\u201d Zane said. \u201cPeople are so tired of the pandemic. I absolutely commiserate with them, but if the social gatherings continue, they are going to kill someone and people don\u2019t want to do that. If we can just rein it in, we can save lives.<\/p>\n

\"COVID-19
COVID-19 in Colorado. Nurse Olivia Thornton, left, and Dr. Abbey Lara, right suit up in protective gear as they prepare to tend to patients doubled up in an ICU room at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How can I see infection rates in my area?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Colorado has a color-coded, county-by-county tracker where you can see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting different parts of the state. This is called the Colorado COVID-19 Dial Dashboard<\/a>. State officials are using the data to determine which counties need to impose stricter restrictions as the pandemic worsens.<\/p>\n

How can I find overall data about COVID-19 in Colorado?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For updated data in Colorado, click here<\/a>. To see COVID-19 infections over time, click on Case Summary. For hospitalizations, you can click on Hospital Data. Testing information and positivity rates are also available. The COVID Tracking Project<\/a> also summarizes data from Colorado and across the U.S. Click here to see Colorado data.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Asymptomatic
A recent study found that nearly 40% of children who tested positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic. People of all ages can be asymptomatic and can still spread the virus to others. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do infections in Colorado compare with those elsewhere in the country?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Infection rates are climbing at the fastest rate now in the middle and northern parts of the country, but infections are rising dramatically in nearly every region of the country. Click here<\/a> and scroll down to see how infections rates vary by state. North and South Dakota are reporting the most infections per 100,000 people with more than 170 new infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days. Other states that are faring poorly now include Iowa, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Colorado isn\u2019t far behind and the rate of spread is much worse in Colorado now than it was during the summer, with nearly 60 cases per 100,000 people now, up from a low of about two cases per 100,000 people in June.<\/p>\n

I keep hearing about positivity rates. What does that mean and why are they important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who test positive for COVID-19 compared to all of the people who are getting tested in a community at one point in time. When the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading very rapidly in a community, as it is now, the percentage of people who test positive increases. To prevent the rapid spread of the virus, public health experts want to drive positivity rates down below 5%. Currently in Colorado, the positivity rate is close to 12%. When the pandemic was most under control during the summer, that rate in Colorado was closer to 3%. As of Nov. 11, South Dakota health officials reported the highest positivity rate in the country of nearly 55%. Iowa, Missouri, Wyoming, Idaho, Kansas and Alabama also had positivity rates over 24%.<\/a><\/p>\n

Where can I get tested for COVID-19?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"UCHealth
Lauren Bomke, a EMT with UCHealth, tests a person for COVID-19 at the UCHealth Laboratory – Harmony Campus drive-thru testing site recently. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested through UCHealth, you can get more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For information on Colorado\u2019s community testing locations, please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What kind of tests are there?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are tests that detect active COVID-19 infections as well as antibody tests, which can show if a person previously was exposed to the virus and developed antibodies. The most accurate COVID-19 test is a nasal swab test that must be sent to a lab. These tests are also known as PCR tests. That stands for polymerase chain reaction. Click here to learn more about various COVID-19 tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If I have antibodies, am I immune from getting the virus again? Is it safe for me to hang out anywhere or with older people or vulnerable people?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. Some people have gotten COVID-19 twice. A positive result to an antibody test doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re immune. It means that you had exposure at some point in the past to the virus. But researchers don\u2019t know yet how long immunities last or how protective they are. Do not assume that it is safe for you to be around others \u2014 especially older people or those with underlying health conditions \u2014 simply because you got a positive result to an antibody test.<\/p>\n

Are rapid COVID-19 tests safe and reliable?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Sign
UCHealth offers drive-through COVID-19 testing at several locations throughout Colorado. The health system will be opening a regional sample-collection center on Nov. 9 at The Ranch Events Center in Loveland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These tests, which generate results in about 15 minutes, are safe. But, they are not always reliable. It\u2019s possible to get false-negative results, which can be very dangerous. Health experts are urging people not to use a negative test result as confirmation that a person does not have COVID-19, and therefore won\u2019t be able to infect anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cLay people believe test results are accurate. But, this is not a great test,\u201d Dr. Zane said. \u201cWe are now at the point where there\u2019s a higher chance of a false negative than a true negative result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is it true that people can test positive for COVID-19 without having any symptoms?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. Studies have found that up to 50% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 didn\u2019t have any symptoms and thus were \u201casymptomatic.\u201d Click here<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsymptomatic spread definitely plays a role in community spread,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. David Beckham<\/a>, an infectious disease specialist who studies viruses in a lab he runs at the\u00a0University of Colorado School of Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beckham said wearing masks is especially critical since many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and have no idea they have the illness and can spread it.<\/p>\n

Is it safe to get together in person with friends and extended family for Thanksgiving this year?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Holiday
Holiday gatherings in 2020 will need to be more intimate. For Thanksgiving and beyond, celebrate with the people in your household or enjoy a small gathering outside. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. Social gatherings<\/a> are one of the key causes for the fall spike in COVID-19 cases that we are experiencing now. So, medical experts are advising people to plan for different Thanksgiving gatherings this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink small,\u201d is the advice that Dr. Michelle Barron,\u00a0one of the leading infectious disease experts in Colorado<\/a>, is giving people.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have any doubts, this is the year to skip it,\u201d Barron said. \u201cThe potential consequences of you bringing flu or COVID-19 to your family holiday gathering or acquiring it and bringing it back home afterwards isn\u2019t worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barron and her colleagues are urgently calling on people to be as careful as ever<\/a>.\u00a0Wear masks.\u00a0Wash hands<\/a>. Avoid large groups and indoor gatherings. Practice social distancing and stay home whenever possible.<\/p>\n

Think about the consequences of getting together. No one wants to see an elder in person for Thanksgiving and get them sick. Consider dining separately and playing games together via an online connection instead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When will we have a vaccine?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"A
UCHealth researchers in northern Colorado are recruiting participants for a study that will test a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Photo courtesy of UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two vaccines makers, Moderna and Pfizer, recently announced that their vaccines are up to 95% effective and other vaccines are moving forward with clinical trials to prove that they are safe and effective<\/a>. Vaccine makers soon will seek emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to give vaccines to the public. Infectious disease experts believe we will have vaccines by the spring of 2021. But, it could take months to get enough people vaccinated. Click here to learn the basics about COVID-19 vaccines<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Should I wear a mask?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Absolutely. Evidence continues to grow that wearing masks helps reduce the spread of the virus. Until we have vaccines, masks are the most effective way to help prevent the spread of the virus. Public health experts have known for many months that people who wear masks are protecting others. New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also shows that the person wearing the mask will stay safer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know this works. There\u2019s no question about it,\u201d said Dr. Barron.<\/p>\n

People often are good about wearing masks in official settings where they are required, like schools, businesses and grocery stories. But many people relax in social settings and that\u2019s dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get it. Everyone is tired, but the impact of not being careful is somebody potentially dying,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n

She recommends going back to the basic public health measures that have been proven to work: wearing masks, washing hands, keeping your distance from people outside of your home and avoiding in-person gatherings with people outside of your household.<\/p>\n

Lara echoed Barron\u2019s advice: \u201cThese infections are so easily preventable with hand-washing and mask-wearing. If you\u2019re going to congregate with people, be outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"to
Wearing masks and meeting people outdoors are two strategies for preventing superspreader events. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Does herd immunity work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The concept of herd immunity is that enough people in the community either have had an illness or are vaccinated, and therefore can stay safe from an infectious illness. We are a long, long way from herd immunity when it comes to COVID-19, so herd immunity won\u2019t yet protect us. Click here<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

I hear that indoor air is more dangerous. Is that true?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. Be very careful about gathering indoors with people. Experts now know that the virus is much more likely to spread indoors<\/a>. Click here to learn about the dangers of indoor air. Click here<\/a> to learn about six steps you can take to slow the spread of coronavirus airborne aerosols indoors.<\/p>\n

Why are infections getting so bad now?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Public health experts predicted we would have a fall spike in cases. The same seasonal increase also occured during the 1918 flu pandemic. The virus spreads more easily indoors. It also may survive longer in colder, dry air. The other big problem is that many of us are experiencing \u201cpandemic fatigue.\u201d<\/a> We are tired of being careful. More adults and young people are socializing. Many people who have COVID-19 may not realize that they are infected, since it\u2019s so common to be asymptomatic. Social gatherings are fueling the major spread of COVID-19 this fall and winter. That\u2019s why experts are so worried about additional infections throughout the holidays.<\/p>\n

I hear that more people are surviving COVID-19 now. Is that true?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, it\u2019s true that doctors are getting better at caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. In Colorado, among people who had to be hospitalized during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring, about 20% died. That percentage is closer to 5% now. That\u2019s partly due to the fact that more young people are being hospitalized now. In general, they are healthier than older people, so they can recover better. But, some young people still are getting gravely ill. Dr. Lara says about 20% of COVID-19 patients at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital are now between the ages of 20 and 29.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re coming in feeling fatigued with fevers, a hard, dry cough and shortness of breath,\u201d Lara said.<\/p>\n

Many have oxygen levels below 90%. Steroids can help some people with breathing difficulties. But, those who are really struggling will have to go to the ICU, where they\u2019ll get high-flow oxygen, which pushes 40 to 60 liters of oxygen per minute.<\/p>\n

Doctors have learned a great deal about how to better care for COVID-19 patients and there are more medications that they can use. Still, there is no cure. And the recovery from COVID-19 can be very difficult<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?<\/strong><\/h3>\n