Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 16
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Staffing
I was working Sector X combined with Sector Y when I gave Aircraft X a descent clearance to FL300. I saw that Aircraft Y was potential traffic and though I had time to get back to monitoring the separation. I got caught up with other duties. The Controller at Sector Z mentioned that I may want to watch the Aircraft X and Aircraft Y.  When I looked back I increased the descent rate on Aircraft X through FL310 and turned Aircraft Y 20 degrees left. I forgot the Aircraft X turned slightly west at ZZZ VOR.  I should have given the Aircraft X a crossing restriction at ZZZ1 [VOR] and anticipated the turn to ZZZ [Airport] after ZZZ1 [VOR]. We are working very short in our area and having to keep sectors combined due to COVID-19 eliminating half our crew including our Supervisor. We now must run CIC and control and train.Get controllers vaccine shots so we can work together again and be back on a regular schedule so we can get used to busy sessions again.
Center Controller reported an airborne conflict and cited staffing issues due to COVID-19 as a contributing factor.