One in 40 people in Colorado is contagious for the novel coronavirus

One in 40 Coloradan is infected with the novel coronavirus, and public health experts say that does not include anyone who has been exposed to the virus during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment released a new modeling report on Saturday that shows COVID-19 infections continue to rise in the state, albeit at a slower rate than mid-November. The state is experiencing its highest prevalence rate since the first coronavirus case was reported in March, according to the modeling report. An estimated 16.5% of the state’s 5.8 million people have been infected to date.

At this rate, 2,120 people could end up hospitalized, including 665 in an intensive care unit, due to COVID-19, according to the report.

Public health experts said Colorado residents practiced good social distancing in the week leading up to Thanksgiving and that the behavior could prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients. However, with many people planning vacation gatherings and trips, health officials have been wary and anxiously watching out for outbreaks in the weeks to come.