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ST. GEORGE – The number of southern Utahns admitted to the hospital for coronavirus in one day broke 70 in the past two days when medical staff began receiving a second injection to complete their COVID-19 vaccination.
According to the Southwest Utah’s Department of Public Health, there were 75 residents admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for COVID-19 and Wednesday 69. The previous peak was 61 on November 29th.
The local death toll from COVID-19 reached 150 on Wednesday, according to the Utah Department of Health, with 54 of the deaths occurring in the past month.
The number of new infections was also above 300 on Wednesday, with 325 new infections. The local health department said there are currently 8,237 people in southern Utah who are infected with the virus.
The largest outbreak is in Beaver County, where 3.5% of Beaver County’s population is currently infected with 240 active cases and a population of 6,795.
Medical experts, local as well as state-level, have been waiting since the holidays for new infections, hospitalizations and deaths. 12 days have now passed since Christmas with a five to 14 day gestation period of the virus.
Meanwhile, the number of people receiving their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine has tripled since Friday, according to figures from the Utah Department of Health, with the local health district now operating vaccination clinics at locations in each of the five provinces.
At the same time, the southwestern Utah Health District is still receiving supplies of both the vaccines that are sitting in refrigerators waiting to be administered.
According to the Utah Department of Health, 11,175 doses of the vaccine were sent to southern Utah as of Wednesday, and 2,821 were administered.
Dr Tamara Sheffield, medical director of community health and prevention at Intermountain Healthcare, said the public needs to be patient with the way the vaccine is administered.
‘AIt depends on the logistics. “It comes down to how to get the vaccine to those places and to get the people who are preferred to those places,” Sheffield said. ‘This is a marathon, not a sprint, because there is a limit to the number of hours we have and the number of people who give the vaccinations. ‘
In a preview of how most people who want the vaccine in Southern Utah will get it, The Southwestern Department of Public Health in Utah began vaccination clinics this week. Together with medical workers, including dentists and pharmacists, the department has now added first responders to those who can make an appointment to receive the vaccine. This includes police officers and firefighters.
This is contrary to previous allegations by the state and local health departments that K-12 teachers and staff will be next in line to receive the vaccine, although they are still expected to respond first.
Links for non-hospital medical workers and first responders to make an appointment for their vaccine can be found at the end of this article.
While more southern Utahns receive their first dose of vaccine, the first people locally receive their second injection of the vaccine needed to complete their vaccination against COVID-19, which those in the St. George Regional Hospital includes that among the first people to receive the first doses of vaccine on December 16th.
Based on the trials with the vaccine, this is the second dose that is more likely to have side effects such as fever, headache and chills during 24 to 48 hours. A Cedar City resident, who was part of the Moderna vaccine trial, said he had ‘two miserable days’ after his second shot, but also no regrets that he got the shot and that he was still virus-free despite the multiple exposure to it.
Sheffield said that in addition to sore arms, less than 3% of the approximately 25,000 Intermountain workers who received an initial dose of the vaccine had fever as a side effect, although she expects more from the second dose.
Sophie Woodbury, a surgical nurse at Intermountain Hospital in Murray, Utah, received her second dose on Tuesday. She said the second dose had worse side effects, but nothing that some Advil could not take care of.
‘After my first dose, I had no side effects. “Wednesday morning I woke up with a headache and ibuprofen did the trick,” Woodbury said. The days at work treating COVID-19 patients are still difficult, but she has had a new peace of mind since she was vaccinated. ‘When I’m having a hard time, I do not have to feel so doomed … that there’s an end to this pandemic, and I’m fighting. ‘
Get the COVID-19 vaccine
- Those who can currently get the vaccine: those who work in healthcare facilities outside the hospital (those in clinics, pharmacies, dentists or other medical offices); Initial response, including law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.
- Must pre-register online for an appointment (must call to register in Beaver County). Loopins are not accepted.
- Must have a personal ID, service ID and wear a short-sleeved shirt by appointment.
- Vaccines by the Southwest Utah’s Department of Public Health is free.
Washington County:
Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Office, St. George, 620 S 400 East, conference room on 2nd floor, St. George, 84770.
When: Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m .; Monday 11 January to Thursday 14 January, 08:00 to 16:00
Click to sign up for Thursday
Click to register for any other day
Iron County:
Where: Cedar City Office in Southwest Utah Office, 260 DL Sargent Dr., Cedar City, 84721.
When: Tuesday 09:00 to 16:00
Click to register
Kane County:
Where: Kanab Office in Southwest Utah, Department of Health, 445 N. Main St., Kanab 84741.
When: January 13, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Click to register
Garfield County:
Where: Panguitch office in the Southwest Utah office, 601 Center St. Panguitch 84759.
When: Monday 10:30 to 13:30
Click to register
Beaver County:
Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Division, Beaver Office, 75 1175 North, Bever 84713.
When: Tuesday 10:00 to 13:30
Click to register
COVID-19 information sources
St. George News did everything possible to ensure that the information in this story was accurate at the time it was written. As the situation and science surrounding the coronavirus continue to evolve, some data may have changed.
See the resources below for updated information and resources.
Southern Utah Coronavirus (from January 6, 2020, averaging seven days in parentheses)
Positive COVID-19 tests: 18,693 (234.9 new infections per day in seven days, which has increased since 31 December)
- The Department of Public Health in Southwestern Utah on Wednesday did not release the numbers by country and said there is now a 24-hour delay.
New infections for large cities in southern Utah (numbers released before the numbers in southern Utah):
- St. George: 137 (ascending)
- Washington City: 34 (valing)
- Hurricane / LaVerkin: 33 (rise)
- Ivins City / Santa Clara: 14 (falling)
- Cedar City: 51 (rise)
Deaths: 150 (2 per day, rising)
- Washington County: 124 (8 new since December 31: Hospitalized man 45-64, hospitalized woman 65-84, hospitalized man 65-84, woman over 85 at home, female over 85 at home, hospitalized man 45-64, hospitalized male 65 -84, long-term care female older than 85)
- Iron County: 15
- Garfield County: 7
- Kane County: 2
- Beaver County: 2
Admitted to hospital: 69 (styg)
Active cases: 8 237 (rise)
Current average of seven days in Utah: 2 963 (rise)
Vaccines Shipped to Southern Utah: 11 175 (+ 1300)
Number of initial vaccine injections in Southern Utah: 2 821 (+ 2 101)
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