TriCounty Health Officer Kirk Benge visited the KLCY studio this week to offer a COVID-19 update for this week’s Give’m Health sharing the following: Unfortunately, Duchesne County once again has the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in the state per capita and last week was the highest week yet for new cases at 423 in the TriCounty Health district. On Monday, there were 2 Uintah County deaths reported bringing the total deaths to 12 in just the month of September in the TriCounty Health district. As of Tuesday, the total active cases came to 1,180. Since May, there have been 622 people hospitalized that were not vaccinated and 20 people that were vaccinated. Benge emphasized that with only around 40 percent of the eligible population vaccinated, the struggle with serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 will continue. He says the solution to getting back to normal is getting the entire population vaccinated so that the illness is out there but it is not overwhelming the healthcare system and leading to serious illness and death. COVID-19 testing through TriCounty Health is only for people who are symptomatic or have been exposed to a positive person. Next week, testing will be Monday and Tuesday at the health department. Wednesday and Thursday are the Flu Shootout days. COVID-19 vaccines will also be available at the flu shootout.
