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DENVER (KDVR) – In the past week, the highest COVID infection rates of transmission were seen among the 6 to 11-year-old state population, according to Colorado health officials.

This is the segment of the population that does not have access to a coronavirus vaccine, experts at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said Friday.

Currently, 829 COVID patients are hospitalized; 24 of those are pediatric.

While most counties in the state are seeing a decline overall in the number of COVID cases, experts are still concerned with the high rate of ICU utilization. ICU bed usage now stands at 88.9%.

Officials with CDPHE are strongly encouraging vaccines, as they noted 78% of those currently hospitalized are unvaccinated.

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