As COVID-19 hospitalization and infection rates continue to rise, Colorado has restarted its statewide health system staffing crisis guidelines, and state health officials said on Tuesday that anyone 18 years and older is eligible to receive booster injections.

The “crisis care standard” enables the hospital to make maximum use of the care provided by existing staff in the community.

According to the Denver Post, more than one-third of hospitals reporting to the state said they expected a shortage of intensive care beds next week, and nearly two-fifths of hospitals said they would be understaffed. On Tuesday afternoon, 1,426 people across the state were hospitalized due to COVID-19.

The crisis guidelines allow hospitals to relocate medical staff to a stressful unit to provide assistance and be supervised by an experienced worker; consider letting nurses work longer hours, preferably reducing the number of shifts; if possible, ask family members or volunteers to help Patients maintain hygiene to free up medical staff; and activate the Colorado National Guard to perform non-clinical work, such as COVID-19 testing or delivery of supplies.

This guide does not apply to emergency medical services, acute care facilities, out-of-hospital care providers, special patient groups, or personal protective equipment.

At the same time, Jessica Blarish, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said that all adults in the state are eligible to receive booster injections because they live or work in high-risk areas. This is set by the Center for Disease Control. Guidelines. Control and prevention.

“It is estimated that 1 in 48 Colorado people is infected, and all Colorado people are likely to be exposed to COVID-19 where they live or work,” she said.