SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose 2,614 on Wednesday, with another 21 deaths reported, according to an update provided by the Utah Department of Health.
The new numbers of COVID-19 cases indicate a 1% increase in positive cases on Tuesday. The average continuous number of seven positive days a day is now 2,033, according to the health department. The positive daily test rate for that time period is now 25%. There are now 484 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data show.
Of the 21 new deaths, nine were in Salt Lake County and five in Utah County, but the department reported nine deaths statewide. The complete list provided by the department was:
- A man from Davis County aged between 45 and 64 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Davis County woman and a resident long-term care unit over the age of 85
- A man from Salt Lake County, aged between 65 and 84, who was not hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Salt Lake County aged between 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Salt Lake County aged between 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man and a resident long-term care unit over the age of 85
- A Salt Lake County man and a resident long-term care unit over the age of 85
- A woman from Salt Lake County, over 85 years old and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Salt Lake County aged between 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Salt Lake County, aged between 65 and 84, who was not hospitalized at the time of death
- A woman from Salt Lake County and a resident long-term care unit between the ages of 45 and 64
- A man from Sanpete County and a resident long-term care unit aged between 65 and 84
- A man from Sanpete County aged between 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Uintah County aged between 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Utah County between the ages of 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Utah County man and a resident long-term care unit over the age of 85
- A Utah County man and a resident long-term care unit between the ages of 65 and 84
- A Utah County woman and a resident long-term care unit over the age of 85
- A man from Utah County between the ages of 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Washington County and a long-term caregiver living between the ages of 65 and 84
- A man from Weber County over 85 years old and hospitalized at the time of death
Utah now has 271,940 confirmed cases in total, with 10,873 hospitalizations in total and 1,256 deaths in total due to March illness after Wednesday’s totals.
Vaccinations “take steam”
A total of 23,970 Utahns have now been vaccinated for COVID-19, according to the health department. Rich Lakin, manager of the Utah Department of Health’s immunization program, said Wednesday that vaccinations are fast-paced and that about 6,500 people have been vaccinated in the past two days, about a quarter of all vaccinations since the beginning. December 15 trial.
“The initial launch of the vaccine was slow – slower than we had anticipated and really slower than we wanted – but we were taking some steam,” he said.
The state also reported Wednesday that more than 125,000 total doses of the vaccine were either shipped or approved for shipment to Utah. The health department does not have a figure on how many of these doses have arrived.
During an informal briefing with members of the media on Wednesday, Lakin said there was a data gap. He said there is usually a delay of at least two days between the doses delivered and the doses received. There is also up to a 24-hour delay when doses are administered and when they appear on the health department’s website.
Local health departments have begun vaccinating non-hospital health workers, such as emergency medical technicians, while Walgreens, CVS and community health care services have begun vaccinating long-term care employees and residents. The latter is the result of a federal partnership with pharmacies to launch vaccines in long-term care institutions, but is still represented in the state supply data, Lakin explained. This is above the hospitals that vaccinate front-line workers, which started the vaccination process.
Vaccines are given in two doses, weeks apart. Lakin added that the state has ordered a second round of vaccination doses for people who have received the first round of immunization. The second round of doses for those already vaccinated will begin next week and will be counted in a separate statistics from the health department.
Why the state vaccine expects delays in time
However, vaccinations are behind what state officials initially hoped for by the end of the year, even if the process gains steam. 154,000 doses were expected to be in the state by the end of 2020. Earlier this month, federal officials apologized for “misreporting” how many doses of vaccine states would receive in the first few weeks. Many states, including Utah, were left with fewer doses than expected.
Lakin said the misrepresentation is likely to change the deadlines for completing vaccination rounds for groups such as health workers. It also means likely delays for the next groups on the vaccination list, such as teachers.
“Because we have less vaccine, it pushes the timeline back a little bit,” he said.
The next lines after the groups are vaccinated are the first respondents and teachers, whom Lakin said he hopes the state can reach by the end of January. Ultimately, it depends on how many doses the state receives from the federal government for this to happen. If the federal release continues to be slower than expected, it will likely push the Utah timeline back.
“If we do not have enough vaccine, we cannot move among the populations we would like, because we cannot provide enough vaccines to our local health departments, because the speed of their vaccination is currently faster than the amount of vaccine. that we can get them, “Lakin said.” So you can see why it might cause a certain delay. “
Carter Williams