SALT LAKE CITY – Utah is currently among the five worst states in the U.S. when it comes to average daily rates of COVID-19 cases.
READ: Utah Governor orders COVID-19 vaccine schedules to be accelerated
According latest data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Utah’s average daily cases per 100,000 out of 98.3 is the fifth in the country.
Arizona is number 1 on the list and is considered “the hottest hot spot” for coronavirus, according to ABC News. Along with Rhode Island, Arizona has positive COVID-19 rates higher than any country in the world.
“Hey, Utah, we’re going in the wrong direction.” tweeted Intermountain Healthcare employee Jess Gomez on Sunday.
“We are very concerned,” said Dr. Todd Vento, an infectious disease physician at Intermountain Healthcare.
“It is almost certain that you should expect more use of the ICU, more ventilators and more seriously ill patients,” he said.
On Sunday, the Utah Department of Health reported 2,276 new cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths. The seven-day average of positive cases in Utah is now 31.5%.
The reality of COVID-19 and its tribute in America is very real, just the facts, said Dr. Vento.
“400,000 people who wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for a single virus that we can’t even see,” he said.
As a community, Utahns need to take precautions that have been reiterated over and over again since the pandemic began, Dr. Vento said.
“There is a reason why it sounds the same, we really mean it for 11 months and we mean it now and we are really going to need the help of each individual,” he said.
Wearing a mask is the best defense for the general public against COVID-19, said Dr. Vento.
“It shouldn’t seem natural to us, a year after a public health emergency due to respiratory viruses around the world, it should seem unusual not to wear a mask, he said.
A new CDC study shows that asymptomatic people spread about 60 percent of COVID-19 cases. This means that everyone should assume that they are at high risk for COVID-19 and avoid meetings, wear masks and practice proper hygiene, said Dr. Vento.