DENVER – Health officials in Colorado have projected that more than 4,000 lives could be saved in the state if residents continue following safety guidelines intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through the end of spring.
Projections made public by the Colorado School of Public Health show the pandemic’s death toll could reach 6,000 by June 1 even if everything goes right, including maintaining safety measures, vaccinating older residents and containing strains of the new virus, The Denver Post reported Tuesday. The same projections show a worst case scenario of 10,900 deaths by June.
The state had reported 5,569 virus-related deaths as of Friday.
Colorado is currently in the process of vaccinating residents, decreasing the number of people at risk of being hospitalized or dying from the virus, said Dr. Beth Carlton, a member of the COVID-19 modeling team for the state.
“This is really about saving lives right now,” Carlton said, adding that if people do not follow safety guidelines, new strains of the virus could gain ground and increase spread.
State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said residents must follow their current level of precautions through at least June 1.
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis agreed, urging residents to continue wearing masks and to avoid gatherings.
“We could lose hundreds or thousands of Coloradans,” he said during a news conference Tuesday. “How many, exactly, is in your hands.”