The COVID-19 presence in Colorado has continued to decline in recent weeks and has now reached low September levels as more vaccines are given and the state unwinds nearly all of its pandemic restrictions.

The decline was nearly constant through May, reversing the virus’s gains made in April’s fourth wave. Colorado averaged 426 new daily COVID-19 cases in the past week, the lowest total since September and nearly 5,000 fewer daily reports than during the fall peak. 

“What we have to tell today is really a good-news story,” Scott Bookman, Colorado’s incident commander for COVID-19, said in a Thursday news conference. “We have worked hard to suppress this virus together.”

Hospitalizations, perhaps the most watched metric, remained high despite new cases declining. But that trend started to reverse in the latter half of May, data show. The state has 429 confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized, plus another 40 suspected cases — down from 679 and 52, respectively, from a May 8 peak. The numbers as of Wednesday afternoon are the lowest hospitalization numbers since April 11.

Bookman touted the vaccine’s role in reducing the number of cases and, now, the number of hospitalizations.

“This is incredible evidence that the vaccine is working,” he said. “It is offering protection, and it is particularly offering protection for the most vulnerable and those who’ve been hospitalized over the course of the pandemic.” 

But Colorado still has a way to go before it hits the important herd immunity mark of at least 70% of the state’s population inoculated. Just over 3 million residents have received at least one vaccine dose, and just under 2.6 million have been fully vaccinated.

Colorado’s vaccination rate has turned sluggish as supply exceeds demand and, officials have said, the state has reached most of its motivated residents and is now working on the wait-and-see crowd. That push will be driven in part by primary care providers, who act as trusted messengers for their patients. The effort also be given a push from the recently announced sweepstakes programs that will give five adults $1 million each and 25 adolescents $50,000 scholarships.