SALT LAKE CITY — Even as a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases appears to be winding down, health experts warned Tuesday that Utahns still must continue taking the same precautions against spreading the deadly virus after they are vaccinated.
The bells at the Utah State Capitol rang out midafternoon in honor of the more than 1,500 Utahns who have died from the coronavirus, part of a “national moment of unity and remembrance” that included a Washington, D.C., ceremony hosted by President-elect Joe Biden.
Hours earlier, the Utah Department of Health reported 1,302 new coronavirus cases and seven additional deaths.
There have been another 4,961 people tested in the state since Monday, and the rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 2,033 per day, and 19.9% for percent of positive laboratory tests. Currently, 573 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah.
A total of 172,603 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, an increase of 3,695 over Monday’s numbers. Doctors from the state’s two major medical providers stressed the need for Utahns to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but made it clear during virtual news conferences that shots alone won’t be enough.
“We are going to really need as a community to continue to pull together and finish strong here. That will define what happens in the hospitals and in the ICU, how we are able to respond during the next six weeks as we come out of this winter period,” said Dr. Brandon Webb, an infectious disease physician at Intermountain Healthcare.
Last week’s detection in Utah of a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus that federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning could become the dominant strain in the United States by March is seen as adding to the need to keep wearing masks, maintain social distance and take other steps to help slow transmission.
“I think that’s top of mind and it should be,” Webb said. “It’s concerning. And it’s a wake-up call that we need to be especially vigilant and effective in doing the things that we know work to very rapidly bring down the community transmission rates.”
Vaccinations — underway across the state now for Utahns 70 and older as well as for health care workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, emergency services personnel, first responders, and schoolteachers and staff — offer 95% protection to the recipient after two doses but may not prevent transmission to others.
“As a grandparent I can relate to the strong desire to visit grandchildren and feel that there’s safety,” Dr. Mark Supiano, University of Utah Health geriatrics division chief, said during an news conference. But he said it’s not yet known whether he can spread COVID-19 even after recently receiving a second dose.
“The vaccine only protects me or the person that’s received the vaccine,” Supiano said.
University of Utah Health Division of Infectious Diseases associate professor Dr. Emily Spivak suggested there’s even more to be worried about after getting just the first dose.
“The whole point of the second dose is to boost the sort of the amount of antibody and the amount of immunity that you have and hopefully the length. We just don’t even know how long the protection is after two doses,” Spivak said, describing the first dose as only 50% to 55% effective.
Webb said based on the data available at this point, the expectation is that vaccinations should give at least nine months to a year of immunity, but that could vary depending on the immune health of recipients. He said the top priority is to ensure as many people as possible get a first round of the vaccine.
Spivak said she’s seen people get infected with COVID-19 after their first dose of the vaccine.
“Whether that was because they let their guard down, hard to know. But I would definitely really caution people between the first and second dose, to really presume that you have no protection, probably. You want to be careful even after the second dose until we can get the whole population vaccinated,” she said.
That includes wearing a mask around anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated, Spivak said.
Utahns joined the national COVID-19 memorial Tuesday afternoon, part of the inauguration events for the president-elect, who will be sworn into office Wednesday. Americans were urged to light candles, ring bells and illuminate the exterior of government buildings.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox ordered the bells at the state Capitol rung 15 times to remember the Utahns lost to the virus while local government officials, including in Salt Lake County and Draper, asked residents to observe a moment of silence.
“We will never forget the heavy toll this deadly virus has taken in this state, and we pray for comfort and peace to the families and friends left behind,” Cox said. “We hope all Utahns will join in honoring those we have lost during this national moment of remembrance.”
More than 400,000 have died from the coronavirus in the United States as of Tuesday, nearly a year since the first U.S. case of the virus was confirmed in Seattle.
Utah’s death toll reached 1,500 Monday, and seven more were reported Tuesday:
• A Salt Lake County woman, older than 85, long-term care facility resident.
• A Salt Lake County woman, between 45 and 64, hospitalized at time of death.
• A Salt Lake County man, between 65 and 84, long-term care facility resident.
• Two Utah County men, between 65 and 84, both hospitalized at time of death.
• A Utah County man, between 45 and 64, hospitalized at time of death.
• A Millard County man, between 65 and 84, hospitalized at time of death.