As COVID-19 hospitalizations increase across Colorado, is there an uptick in El Paso County?

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado health officials say they've seen the first increase in COVID-19 cases in months. According to case data, June 27th saw the lowest hospitalizations in Colorado at 126 hospitalizations. As of July 7, there has been an uptick in hospitalizations, with 173 patients currently hospitalized for confirmed COVID-19.

Currently, there are 154 patients currently hospitalized as COVID-19 persons under investigation in Colorado.

Health department data indicate the state recorded 1,734 new confirmed cases between June 29 and July 5.

With COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing across Colorado, El Paso County is experiencing a similar trend.

According to the El Paso County Health Department's website, the last week of June recorded 13 hospitalizations. That number has jumped to 21 hospitalizations for the first week of July.

UCHealth Memorial Hospital in El Paso County tells KRDO that they currently have about 15-16 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, that's an increase from about 7-8 patients last month.

Dr. David Steinbruner, Associate Chief Medical Officer of UCHealth Memorial says, “The problem overall is that we anticipate that the younger folks who are spreading the virus currently will pass it along to the older people who are more vulnerable.”

Penrose St. Francis Hospital confirms this trend with the following statement: "We are seeing an uptick trend in the numbers of hospitalizations in recent weeks, so it’s critical for everyone to keep wearing face masks, practicing excellent hand hygiene and social distancing as much as possible."