Elective Surgeries Could Be Paused (Again) In Colorado Due To Climbing COVID Numbers

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DENVER (CBS4) - Gov. Jared Polis laid out an emergency plan that could stop or delay top elective and cosmetic surgeries. It comes as Colorado continues to see increasing COVID-19 data such as a nearly 9% seven-day positivity rate.

(credit: CBS)

The number of people hospitalized with COVID dropped slightly - down 24 to 1,167.

Now, Polis is considering reinstating an order to ration medical care in Colorado in an effort to help alleviate crowded hospitals and staff shortages.

"Temporarily stopping cosmetic surgeries and potentially other elective procedures. There are certain providers that at times are delaying those, but we have no current statewide policy around that," Polis said.

Polis also wants to request a medical surge team from FEMA. The state could also deploy mobile stations to to provide monoclonal antibody treatments. They would help reduce the risk of hospitalizations in people who contract COVID-19.

"We've lost 163 people between 41-59 over the last four months. Of those 150 were not vaccinated. Only 13 were vaccinated," said Polis.

Of the 1,167 hospitalized people in Colorado with COVID, 77% are unvaccinated.