Wave of omicron recedes in Southern Utah, but hospitalizations and deaths remain in its wake

Photo illustration. | Photo by Joanna Skoczen, iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Data from the Utah Department of Health indicates that as far as new infections are concerned, the surge of the omicron variant that broke pandemic records in Southern Utah has receded. 

In a file picture, Noah Flikkema (left) and Addy Dabb (right) said they wished their classmates and fellow students at Dixie State University took more precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, St. George, Utah, Jan. 20, 2022 | Photo by Ammon Teare, St. George News

However, the damage of the infections remains in a still crowded to capacity hospital and a surge in reported local COVID-19 deaths over the last three days. With the pandemic more than two years old now, medical professionals are well aware of the COVID-19 surge cycle of one to two weeks of an increase in infections, followed by a week or two of increased hospitalizations and deaths. 

“Those two measures will typically lag behind a case drop by a couple of weeks,” said David Heaton, spokesperson for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. 

Heaton said the 14 deaths of COVID-19 in Southern Utah in the last week were on par with the 15 reported the week before, both of which were about five deaths above average. 

The Utah Department of Health reports that of the 14 deaths of locals added since last Thursday, 12 have come in the last three days. 

File photo of a view inside one of the rooms in the intensive care unit inside St. George Regional Hospital, then called Dixie Regional Medical Center, as a nurse in COVID-19 protective gear treats a patient, St. George, Utah, December 2020 | Photo courtesy of Intermountain Healthcare, St. George News

As far as COVID-19 hospitalizations locally and the capacity at St. George Regional Hospital, the report from hospital officials on Thursday was that it was the “same.”

But it isn’t a good same from the perspective of relieving overcrowding or relief in the intensive care unit or the COVID-19 floors. 

Out of 284 licensed beds, 277 were occupied at the St. George Hospital as of Thursday morning. And while there are 284 beds, nurses and doctors being out with COVID themselves or just staff shortages means there isn’t enough staff to man 284 beds.

Of those patients, 87 are COVID-19 patients – three fewer than the all-time high for COVID-19 patients at the hospital.

A question now is whether the reduced number of infections in the last week will translate into relief at the hospital and the morgue. 

Graphic by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality showing the amount of COVID-19 detected in sewage currently as of Feb. 3, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Environmental Quality, St. George News | Click to enlarge

The number of daily new infections locally has gone from the 600s and 500s per day to the 300s and the 200s per day – still much higher than the typical average day before omicron but a drop from the pandemic record set two weeks ago. 

And at the schools, Thursday marked the first time in more than three weeks that there was not a local school in the red by the Utah Department of Health for the highest level of COVID-19. At its worst a week ago, there were five local schools at the worst level of outbreak that would have resulted in a test-to-stay status before that was removed by the state Legislature. 

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has been monitoring the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage in the state since April 2000. And for the first time in a month after sewage sites in St. George, Cedar City and Hurricane were seen to be continuously increasing in the detection of the virus, this week it held steady.  

Vaccine mortality

In the state of Utah since Feb. 1, according to the Utah Department of Health, an unvaccinated person is currently 9.2 times more likely to die if they get COVID-19 than a person who has been immunized and about five unvaccinated people have died of COVID-19 for every one vaccinated person who has.

Graphic showing the death rate from COVID-19 of those unvaccinated in orange vs. those vaccinated in blue as of Feb. 3, 2022 | Graphic courtesy of the Utah Department of Health, St. George News | Click to enlarge

While there are reports on social media of claims of people dying in the hospital of the COVID-19 vaccine, rather than COVID-19, out of the more than 541 million doses of the vaccine given in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control said four deaths have been directly attributed to a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine by a hospital, coroner or health agency. 

There have been no deaths reported locally from a side effect of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine by either the hospitals, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department or the Utah Department of Health.

Southern Utah coronavirus count as of Thursday, according to Utah Department of Health

Positive COVID-19 tests: 61,240 (7-day average of 282.29 per day, down 45.5% in last week)

  • Washington County (High in Transmission Index): 2,401.13 per 100K rate in 14 days, falling since Jan. 27
  • Iron County (High):  2,837.33, falling
  • Kane County (High): 1,554.21, rising
  • Garfield County (High): 1,346.53, falling
  • Beaver County (High): 2,248.19, falling

Hospitalized: 80 (rising, data updated as of Feb. 3)

Deaths: 559 (14 since Jan. 27)

New infections per day in Southern Utah:

  • Friday (Jan. 28): 369
  • Saturday (Jan. 29): 340
  • Sunday (Jan. 30): 302
  • Monday (Jan. 31): 169
  • Tuesday (Feb. 1): 225
  • Wednesday (Feb. 2): 300
  • Thursday (Feb. 3): 271

Current Utah seven-day average: 3,774 (falling)

Fully vaccinated in Southern Utah: 120,918 (46.2% fully vaccinated, +0.1% since Jan. 27)

  • St. George: 49.77% fully vaccinated (+0.14%)  
  • Cedar City: 42.19% (+0.19%) 
  • Washington City: 45.28% (+0.13%) 
  • Ivins/Santa Clara: 52.78% (+0.17%) 
  • Hurricane/LaVerkin: 39.42% (+0.07%)  
  • Enterprise/Veyo/Springdale/Hildale: 45.12% (+0.11%) 
  • Beaver/Garfield/Kane counties: 45.3% (+0.16%)

Southern Utah schools with active COVID-19 infections as of Thursday, according to Utah Department of Health

NOTE: Utah Department of Health currently provides only ranges of the number of infections in each district, rather than exact figures. Figures may be an overall undercount as not all infections among students are reported to the state.

    • Washington County School District: 319 to 364 (falling since Jan. 27)
    • Iron County School District: 95 to 110 (falling)
    • Kane County School District: 18 to 20 (rising)
    • Garfield County School District: 3-12 (falling)
    • Beaver County School District: 2-8 (falling)
    • Southwest Utah Charter Schools: 45-57 (falling)
    • Southwest Utah Private Schools: 1-4 (rising)

Schools in red (30 or more infections): None.

Schools in yellow (15-29 infections): Snow Canyon High (Washington), Cedar City High (Iron),  Pine View High (Washington), Snow Canyon Middle School (Washington), Dixie High (Washington), Desert Hills Middle School (Washington).

Top 5 schools: Snow Canyon High (Washington) 26 active infections, Cedar City High (Iron) 20,  Pine View High (Washington) 19, Snow Canyon Middle School (Washington) 18, Dixie High (Washington)18.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine

  • Those who can currently get the first dose of the vaccine: Everyone ages 5 and over. Those 5-18 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. Use vaccinefinder.org to find clinics that have the Pfizer vaccine.
  • Those who can receive the second dose: Those who received their first injection 28 days or more before the appointment time.
  • Those who can receive a booster dose: Those who received Pfizer or Moderna at least five months ago and are 12 or older. Those who received Johnson & Johnson at least two months ago and are 18 or older. Booster shots can be of any form of COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The Southwest Utah Public Health Department have returned to walk-in appointments. Some pharmacies and stores are offering walk-up appointments. Check the links below before going.
  • Must wear a short-sleeve shirt at appointment and should have a personal ID.
  • Vaccines are free of charge.

Washington County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department St. George office, 620 S. 400 East, St George

For hours and more information: Click here 

Iron County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Cedar City office, 260 DL Sargent Dr., Cedar City, 84721.

For hours and more information: Click here 

Kane County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Kanab office, 445 N. Main St., Kanab.

For hours and more information: Click here 

Garfield County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Panguitch office, 601 Center St., Panguitch.

For hours and more information: Click here 

Beaver County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Beaver Office,  75 1175 North, Beaver.

For hours and more information: Click here 

St. George Regional Hospital/Intermountain Healthcare:

Where: 400 East Campus St. George Regional Hospital,  544 S. 400 East, St. George.

Reservations: Click to register

FourPoints Health:

Where: Various locations.

For hours and more information:: Click here

Revere Health:

Where: Revere Health Campus,  2825 E. Mall Drive, St. George.

Reservations: Call (435) 673-6131 to determine if the vaccine is available.

Albertsons:

Where: 745 N Dixie Dr in St. George and 915 Red Cliffs Dr. in Washington City.

Reservations: Click to register

Harmons:

Where: 1189 E. 700 South in St. George and 3520 Pioneer Parkway in Santa Clara.

Reservations: Click to register

Lin’s Marketplace:

Where: 1930 W. Sunset Blvd. and 2928 E. Mall Drive in St. George, 1120 State St. in Hurricane and 150 N Main St. in Cedar City.

Reservations: Click to register

Smith’s Food and Drug:

Where: 20 N. Bluff St. and 565 S. Mall Drive in St. George and 633 S. Main St. in Cedar City.

Reservations: Click to register

Target:

Where: 275 S River Rd. in St. George.

Reservations: Click to register

Walmart:

Where: 2610 Pioneer Rd. in St. George, 625 W. Telegraph St. in Washington City, 180 N. 3400 West in Hurricane and 1330 S. Providence Center Dr. in Cedar City.

Reservations: Click to register

Family pharmacies:

Where: Several locations

Reservations: Use vaccinefinder.org to find a location near you

COVID-19 information resources

St. George News has made every effort to ensure the information in this story is accurate at the time it was written. However, as the situation and science surrounding the coronavirus continues to evolve, it’s possible that some data has changed.

Check the resources below for up-to-date information and resources.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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