Utah reports 22 new deaths from COVID-19, 686 new cases and an error in vaccination records.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kenley Hansen gets a vaccine against Kirsten Weber’s COVID-19 as Utah County residents were preparing to get vaccinated at a former Spanish Fork Shopko store. Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
Utahns who are not currently in the high-risk groups designated for shooting and who were able to schedule a vaccine against COVID-19 through the state website will now see these appointments canceled.
On Saturday, officials learned that there was an error in the state process that allowed some residents to register even if they were not 65 or older or had adequate medical condition.
According to a statement Saturday evening from 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 appointments.
“These appointments will be canceled within the next 24 hours and email notifications will be sent to each person whose appointment has been canceled,” the statement said. “Several hundred people, after learning of the mistake on social media, have already canceled the appointments on their own.
“If anyone believes their appointment has been canceled in error, they should contact the local health department where they scheduled the appointment or try to schedule the appointment again online.”
People who went directly to the state vaccination site, filled out the form and answered the questions truthfully, even if they did not have adequate medical condition, were able to get the available appointments, the Department of Health said. Salt Lake County Health in a statement Saturday afternoon.
“We ask the public to refrain from making appointments if they do not have an adequate medical condition,” the statement said. “We ask that they cancel this appointment so that someone at higher risk can take it and receive the vaccine.”
People who meet the state qualification can keep their appointments.
The vaccination problem came on a day when the number of COVID-19 cases in Utah remained below four figures, with 686 cases recorded on Saturday. This marks two weeks when the daily count of cases has been less than 1,000.
The state recorded 22 new deaths from the virus, however, 12 men and 10 women. Nineteen of those deaths occurred before Feb. 6, the Utah Department of Health said.
Vaccines administered during the past day / total vaccinations • 19,757 / 702,293.
Number of Utahns who have received two doses • 249,398.
Cases reported last day • 686.
Deaths reported last day • 22.
• Seven from Salt Lake County, two men between the ages of 65 and 84; and five women between the ages of 65 and 84.
• 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 the ages of 65 and 84.
• 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 the ages of 45 and 64.
• 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 last day • 223, eight less than Friday. Of those currently hospitalized, 89 are in intensive care units, five fewer than on Friday.
Tests reported last day • 6,752 people were tested for the first time. A total of 17,724 people were tested.
Percentage of positive tests • According to the original method of the state, the seven-day average of 12.2%.
The new state method counts all test results, including repeated tests by the same individual. The seven-day rotating average is now at 5.5%.
Total so far • 370,770 cases; 1,929 dead; 14,664 hospitalizations; 3,798,843 people tested.