SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah increased by 2,614 on Wednesday, with another 21 deaths reported, according to an update provided by the Utah Department of Health.
The new COVID-19 case numbers indicate a 1% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. The average number of positive cases per day for seven days is now 2,033, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that 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 from Salt Lake County and five from Utah County, but the department reported new deaths across the state. The complete list provided by the department was:
- A Davis County man aged 45 to 64 and hospitalized at the time of death
- Davis County woman and resident of long-term care institution over 85 years old
- A Salt Lake County man aged 65 to 84 who was not hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man who lives in an 85-year-old long-term care institution
- A Salt Lake County man who lives in an 85-year-old long-term care institution
- A woman from Salt Lake County over 85 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County man aged 65 to 84 who was not hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County woman is a resident of a long-term care institution between the ages of 45 and 64
- A Sanpete County man who lives in a long-term care institution between the ages of 65 and 84
- A man from Sanpete County between the ages of 65 and 84 and hospitalized at the time of death
- A man from Uintah County aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Utah county man aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Utah County man who lives in an 85-year-old long-term care institution
- A Utah County man who lives in a long-term care institution between the ages of 65 and 84
- A Utah County woman who lives in an 85-year-old long-term care institution
- A Utah county man aged 65 to 84 years and hospitalized at the time of death
- A Washington County man who lives in a long-term care institution between the ages of 65 and 84
- A Weber County man over 85 and hospitalized at the time of death
Utah now has 271,940 confirmed cases, with 10,873 hospitalizations and 1,256 deaths from the disease since March, after Wednesday’s total.
Vaccinations ‘gaining strength’
A total of 23,970 Utahns have already been vaccinated for COVID-19, according to the health department. Rich Lakin, Utah Department of Health’s immunization program manager, said on Wednesday that vaccinations are increasing now and about 6,500 people have been vaccinated in the past two days, which represents about a quarter of all vaccinations since the beginning of the process on December 15.
“The initial launch of the vaccine was slow – slower than anticipated and really slower than what we wanted – but we are gaining momentum,” he said.
The state also reported on Wednesday that more than 125,000 total doses of vaccines have been shipped or approved for shipment to Utah. The health department does not have a number on how many of these doses have arrived.
During an informal meeting with media members on Wednesday, Lakin said there was a data delay. He said that there is usually a delay of at least two days between doses sent and doses received. There is also a delay of up to 24 hours when doses are administered and when they appear on the health department’s website.
Local health departments started vaccinating non-hospital health workers, such as emergency medical technicians, while Walgreens, CVS and community nursing services began vaccinating employees and residents of long-term care institutions. The latter is the result of a federal partnership with drugstores to distribute vaccines in long-term care facilities, but is still represented in the state’s supply data, explained Lakin. This is in addition to hospitals that vaccinate frontline staff, which started the vaccination process.
Vaccines are also given in two doses weeks apart. Lakin added that the state ordered its second round of vaccination doses for people who received their first round of vaccination. The second round of doses for those already vaccinated will start next week and will be counted in a separate statistic from the health department.
Why the state vaccine expects schedule delays
Still, vaccinations fall short of what state officials originally expected by the end of the year, even though the process is gaining momentum. There were expected to be 154,000 doses in the state by the end of 2020. Earlier this month, federal authorities apologized for a “miscommunication” about 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 this lack of communication is likely to change the deadlines for completing rounds of vaccination for groups such as healthcare professionals. It also means likely delays for the next groups on the vaccination list, such as teachers.
“As we have less vaccine, this is slowing down the time somewhat,” he said.
Next in line after the groups are vaccinated are the first respondents and teachers, who Lakin said he hoped the state could arrive by the end of January. This depends on how many doses the state receives from the federal government to make this happen. If federal rollout continues to be slower than expected, it will likely delay Utah’s schedule.
“If we don’t have enough vaccine, we won’t be able to get through the populations we would like, because we cannot provide enough vaccines to our local health departments because the speed with which they vaccinate is currently faster than the amount of vaccine we can get them,” said Lakin. “Then you can see why this can cause some delay.”
Carter Williams