The health department also reported 396 new cases and six deaths on Sunday.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) People wear masks while shopping in Ogden, March 10, 2021.
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The rate of daily cases of COVID-19 has been maintained recently, after an encouraging decline in recent weeks.
In the last seven days, Utah has registered 3,529 new cases of coronavirus. This decreased slightly compared to the previous week, when the state health department reported 3,615 new cases. In these two weeks, the daily average of new cases is 510.25.
The state’s scoreboard shows that since March 8, Utah has eliminated cases after two months of decline. The last time the state reported a plateau in previous cases was January 10.
One possible reason for the plateau could be the emergence of several variants of coronavirus that have made their way to the United States in recent months, fueling questions from state officials about how to react to them. It is believed that the variants spread more easily among people and probably cause more severe diseases.
The state has registered 67 cases of the United Kingdom variant (labeled B.1.1.7), but none of the variants in South Africa (B.1.351) or Brazil (P.1) yet. However, the reporting by the health department of this data is about two weeks ago.
The current plateau leaves the state in about the same place it was in June, when cases averaged about 470 a day. Then-state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said the spread could soon justify a “complete shutdown.”
The obvious difference between the scary warning that preceded Utah’s massive growth in cases and now is that Utah has three vaccines. And their dissemination is growing. On Sunday, the state health department reported that it had reached more than 1 million doses.
“For those of you who have already caught fire, thank you,” said the state health department. “For others, please get the vaccine when it’s your turn. That’s how we recover our lives. “
All adults are eligible for vaccination appointments starting April 1. The vaccine has clearly helped, as cases among teachers have declined, as have outbreaks in nursing homes. And while San Juan County was once one of the most affected areas in the country, it has now seen new infections slow down.
However, the pandemic is not over. The state reported more coronavirus deaths this week (51) than the previous week (41). And, the percentage of beds in intensive care units occupied by patients with COVID-19 fluctuated around 70% for almost two weeks.
Below is a breakdown of coronavirus data released Sunday by the health department.
Past vaccinations / total vaccinations • 15,861 / 1,009,029.
Utahns fully vaccinated • 365,176.
Cases reported the other day • 396.
Deaths reported last day • 6.
• A woman in Utah County between the ages of 65 and 84.
• Three men from Utah County – two between 45 and 64 and one between 65 and 84.
• A man from Salt Lake County between the ages of 45 and 64.
• A man from Davis County over the age of 85.
Hospitalizations reported last day • 167. That’s 23 on Saturday. Of those currently hospitalized, 63 are in intensive care – four more than on Saturday.
Tests reported the other day • 4,089 people were tested for the first time. A total of 7,397 people were tested.
Totals so far • 378,379 cases; 2,027 deaths; 15,104 hospitalizations; 2,289,803 people tested.