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0000017b-652b-d50a-a3ff-f7efb02e0000KPCW's COVID-19 news coverage for Summit County and Wasatch County, Utah. 0000017b-652b-d50a-a3ff-f7efb02f0000You can also visit the Utah Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization websites for additional information.

Summit County Returns to Moderate COVID-19 Transmission

KPCW

Summit County returned to the moderate level of COVID-19 transmission last week.

 

Summit County lasted just over six weeks in Utah’s “low” COVID-19 transmission level before the county slipped back up to “moderate” last week. According to the county health department, the change is largely driven by rising infections among unvaccinated adults and children.

 

Although the county has not seen more than 10 new cases in a day since early May, the county has averaged about four-and-a-half cases per day in July. When the county first moved to the low transmission level in late May, it was rare to see more than two new cases in a day.

 

Per Utah Department of Health guidelines, a county’s transmission level is determined by three metrics: a seven-day average of percent positivity, a two week case rate per 100,000 people, and the statewide seven-day ICU utilization. It takes two of the three measurements in order to change a county’s transmission level.

 

According to the health department, as of Saturday, Utah’s ICU’s are 88% full, which places it in the high transmission category. In Summit County, the two week case rate per 100,000 people is 114 and the seven-day average for percent positivity is 5.6%, placing it in the moderate category.

 

Summit County continues to lead the state in vaccinations, with over 75% of people living in the county having received at least one dose -- 67% of whom are considered to be fully vaccinated. Statewide, just under half of all Utahns have received at least one dose. Anyone over the age of 12 is eligible to receive a vaccine.

 

The change in transmission level does not include any health restrictions like mask wearing or social distancing, per a state law passed during this year’s legislative session.

 

Summit County is joined by Wasatch County and eight other counties in the moderate transmission level. Seven counties are in the low category and 12 are in the high category.

 

To find the nearest vaccine appointment near you, click here.

Sean Higgins covers all things Park City and is the Saturday Weekend Edition host at KPCW. Sean spent the first five years of his journalism career covering World Cup skiing for Ski Racing Media here in Utah and served as Senior Editor until January 2020. As Senior Editor, he managed the day-to-day news section of skiracing.com, as well as produced and hosted Ski Racing’s weekly podcast. During his tenure with Ski Racing Media, he was also a field reporter for NBC Sports, covering events in Europe.