Intermountain Healthcare to Hold COVID-19 Community Update on Thursday to Address Spike in State’s COVID Cases and What It Means for Utah

WHAT: 
Utah has seen a significant spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases this week, with hot spots being recorded in Utah County, among other locations, and an increase in younger people testing positive for the virus.  
 
On Wednesday, the Utah Department of Health reported 747 new cases of COVID-19, with one new death, and an 18.1% positive rate on 4,119 recorded tests, which is concerning to infectious diseases specialists.  
 
What does the current trend of new COVID-19 cases in the state mean for Utah hospitals, frontline caregivers, and the community? What does this spike mean for potential hospitalizations as a result of the increase in positive COVID cases? What are hospitals and doctors in Utah seeing in terms of effective treatment for hospitalized patients and trends in cases? How are specific county mask mandates impacting the transmission of new cases and what is needed to stem the current increase in cases in the Beehive state?  
 
Intermountain Healthcare infectious diseases physician, Eddie Stenehjem, MD, will participate in a Facebook Live COVID-19 Community Update at 9 am on Thursday and will address these and other questions about the coronavirus pandemic in Utah.  
 
Journalists are invited to join the community update report and ask questions of Dr. Stenehjem on Facebook or Zoom broadcast.  
 
WHEN: 
9 am, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 
 
WHERE: 
Invitations sent to media. Public can view at www.facebook.com/intermountain
 
###