As COVID-19 Pandemic Approaches One-Year Mark in Utah, Intermountain Chief Physician Executive to Provide Community Update Today at 10:30 am, MT

WHAT: 
As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the one-year mark in Utah, Dr. Mark Briesacher, Intermountain Healthcare’s chief physician executive, will provide an update on overall COVID-19 trends in Utah, where Utah hospitals stand in terms of ICU volumes and capacity, how caregiver are doing, status of community COVID vaccination rollout plans, community herd immunity, and COVID variants. 
 
Here’s the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Utah and across the nation: 

• New cases of COVID-19 have continued to decline across the U.S. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is now at 67,000 cases—a 37 percent decrease from two weeks ago. Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients are down 31 percent from two weeks ago and average daily deaths have decreased by 23 percent.

• In Utah, average daily case counts have dropped to approximately 760 cases per day. All health districts across the state are experiencing decreases in case counts. The state’s referral center hospitals are now below 77 percent capacity.

• Utah has administered 85 percent of its current vaccine supply. It’s among the top 15 states for the percentage of vaccine administered.

• More than 70 percent of Utahns age 70+ have received the first dose of the vaccine. Rates have slowed this week, indicating a large portion of people in this age group who want to receive the vaccine have done so.

• All age groups have been experiencing decreases in COVID-19 cases, with the 85+ age group seeing slightly sharper declines. 

The update and press briefing by Dr. Briesacher are part of Intermountain Healthcare’s Community COVID Update and will be broadcast live on Intermountain’s Facebook page. 
 
WHEN:  
10:30 am, MT, Friday, Feb 26, 2021
 
WHO: 
Dr. Mark Briesacher  
Intermountain Healthcare Chief Physician Executive          
 
(Pronounced Bree-socker)
  
WHERE: 
Zoom Video Meeting invitation sent to media, or view at https://www.facebook.com/intermountain