COVID-19 vaccinations continued in Utah this week with the Health Department reporting over 3,500 doses administered so far.
In Phase 1 of Utah’s vaccine distribution plan, healthcare personnel who work in high-risk environments from the hospitals in the state that provide care to the highest number of COVID-19 patients are first in line. Other healthcare workers are next, along with school staff and first responders.
Vaccinations for the general public are not expected to become available until next spring.
The Utah Department of Health reported 3,648 doses of the vaccine have been administered as of Saturday and over 23,000 have been shipped to the state so far.
The Health Department recorded 2,408 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the state’s rolling seven-day average for positive tests to 2,454 per day. The rolling 7-day average for positive laboratory tests is 22.1%.
Summit County reported 41 new cases on Saturday. Wasatch County reported 29. Wasatch County’s average of daily case counts has been steadily declining since December 5th and now sits at 27.7.
Despite a downward trend in new cases statewide, Utah’s hospitals remain overloaded. 559 people are currently hospitalized across the state and statewide ICU capacity is at 99.4%. COVID-19 referral center ICUs, where the majority of patients are treated, are 104.1% full.
The Health Department also reported eight more deaths on Saturday, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,148. None of Saturday’s deaths were from either Summit or Wasatch Counties.
A statewide mask order is still in effect and gatherings are strongly encouraged to be under 10 people.
