Utah reports 22 new deaths from COVID-19, 686 new cases and a flaw in vaccination records.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kenley Hansen receives the COVID-19 vaccine from Kirsten Weber, while Utah County residents lined up for vaccination at an old Shopko store in Spanish Fork, Wednesday, January 27, 2021 .
Utahns who are not among the high-risk groups currently assigned for injections that have been able to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination through the state website will now see these consultations canceled.
On Saturday, authorities found that there was a flaw in the statewide process that allowed some residents to register, even if they were not 65 or older or had a qualified health problem.
According to a statement on Saturday night by Tom Hudachko, communications director for the Utah Department of Health, approximately 7,200 people who did not meet the eligibility requirements were able to make inquiries.
“These appointments will be canceled within the next 24 hours, and e-mail notifications will be sent to each person whose appointment has been canceled,” says the statement. “Several hundred people, after learning about the error on social media, have already canceled appointments on their own.
“If someone finds that your appointment was canceled in error, you should contact the local health department where you scheduled the appointment or try to schedule the appointment again online.”
People who went directly to the state’s vaccination site, filled out the form and answered questions sincerely – even if they did not have a qualified medical condition – were able to make available appointments, the Salt Lake County Health Department said in an afternoon statement. collapsed .
“We ask the public to refrain from making appointments if they do not have a qualified medical condition,” the statement said. “We ask that you cancel this appointment so that someone at greater risk can take it and receive the vaccine.”
People who meet the state qualification can keep their appointments.
The vaccination failure came on a day when the number of COVID-19 cases in Utah remained below four, with 686 cases reported on Saturday. This marks two weeks in which the daily case count has dropped below 1,000.
The state recorded 22 new deaths from the virus, however, 12 men and 10 women. Nineteen of those deaths occurred before February 6, said the Utah Department of Health.
Vaccinations given the day before / total vaccinations • 19,757 / 702,293.
Number of Utahns who received two doses • 249,398.
Cases reported the previous day • 686.
Deaths reported the day before • 22
• Seven from Salt Lake County, two men aged 65 to 84; and five women between 65 and 84 years old.
• Four from Washington County, a man and a woman, both over 85; two men between 65 and 84 years old.
• Three from Utah County, a man over 85; and two women between 65 and 84 years old.
• Two from Beaver County, a man over 85 and a man between 65 and 84
• Two from Emery County, a woman over 85; and a man between 65 and 84 years old.
• Two from Weber County, two men between 45 and 64 years old.
• One from Cache County, a woman between 65 and 84 years old
• One from Davis County, a man between 65 and 84 years old.
Hospitalizations reported the previous day • 223, eight less than Friday. Of those currently hospitalized, 89 are in intensive care units – five fewer than on Friday.
Tests reported the day before • 6,752 people were tested for the first time. A total of 17,724 people were tested.
Percentage of positive tests • Under the original state method, the seven-day moving average is 12.2%.
The new state method counts all test results, including repeated tests from the same individual. The seven-day moving average is now at 5.5%.
Totals to date • 370,770 cases; 1,929 deaths; 14,664 hospitalizations; 3,798,843 people tested.