Pandemic fatigue creating spike in Colorado COVID-19 cases

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- After having to deal with the everyday inconveniences of COVID-19 for the past seven months, it's no surprise people are starting to ease up on mask-wearing and social distancing. 

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers says he's seen pandemic fatigue take over the Springs. "People are a little sick of this," Suthers says. "They don't see people immediately around them getting really sick, a lot of folks don't and so they think, 'hey no big deal', but the fact of the matter is people are still dying."

Governor Jared Polis says with cases and hospitalizations on the rise, we simply cannot give up. "Fatigue is setting in, that's why we are seeing these numbers increase, but the virus is not tired of us; it is still deadly," Polis says.

Current data from the State Department of Public Health shows the virus making a strong comeback. Dr. Rachel Herlihy the State epidemiologist says if this trend continues we could eclipse the grim numbers we saw back at the start of the pandemic. 

"Based on our current trajectory," Dr. Herlihy says, "we are projected to exceed the number of hospitalizations we saw in the Spring in about mid-November."

While counties like El Paso and Pueblo are now considering adding restrictions, like limiting the number of people indoors, Polis says those restrictions won't save us if people don't care about taking necessary precautions.

"Counties and states can say what we say and counsel you how we counsel you but ultimately it's up to you to take that scientific-based advice and follow that scientific-based advice," Polis says.