BA.5, the latest omicron variant, now accounts for nearly every new SARS-CoV-2 infection in the state, and community levels are high across the Denver metro area, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The state’s picture mirrors the nation’s, with rising case numbers now including twice-boosted President Joe Biden, whose age (79) puts him at high risk of severe disease. But Biden’s reportedly mild symptoms and rapid treatment with the antiviral Paxlovid represent how the COVID-19 environment has changed.
Below, Michelle Barron, MD, and Thomas Campbell, MD, two University of Colorado School of Medicine experts in the Division of Infectious Diseases, discuss the evolving COVID-19 picture and answer questions about the latest variant and booster shots.