Utah is a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” says Gov. Cox

Photo: Governor Spencer Cox

MILLCREEK, Utah — Governor Spencer Cox broke with his monthly press conference schedule in order to promote the vaccine as COVID-19 cases in Utah rise.

The governor highlighted the recent uptick in not only cases but hospitalizations.

He placed blame on the highly contagious delta variant that is forcing areas like San Francisco to reintroduce mask mandates.

“Our hospital ICUs are filling up, and our healthcare workers are feeling the strain,” Gov. Cox said.

There are currently 395 people in Utah hospitals with COVID-19. One month ago, that number was 266. Yesterday the state reported 15 deaths that involved COVID complications, 7 of those cases were people under the age of 65.

Cox highlighted the need for the under-65 population to get vaccinated. “We have a solution to this virus provided by the government in the form of vaccinations… Vaccinations save lives. Vaccinations allow us to continue to get back to normal. Vaccinations help the economy. Vaccinations help all of those things that we wanted and that we miss to get back.”

The Utah Department of Health reported 728 new cases on Tuesday, along with five deaths.

The governor said any student in the state that wants a mask — N95 or KN95 — will be given one.

Additionally, the Utah Department of Health released this week new recommendations for schools as the first day of class approaches.

Cox also touched on a New York Times piece that featured a Provo woman’s vaccine hesitancy. “These stories are tragic,” Cox said.