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Governor Cox urges Utahns to get vaccinated headed into July 4 holiday

UPDATED: JUNE 19, 2021 AT 12:09 PM

FILE -- Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during the last weekly COVID-19 briefing at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Briefings will now move to every other week. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

BY MARK JACKSON
Anchor and reporter

SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox is once again urging Utahns to get vaccinated. On Thursday’s Let Me Speak To The Governor on KSL Newsradio, Cox said they are working on a number of ways to make vaccinations easier and more accessible to Utahns. One of them includes encouraging more businesses to host events where unvaccinated Utahns can get shots in arms.

“We sent out 10,000 letters to businesses just this past week encouraging them to do just that,” Gov. Cox told KSL Newsradio’s Maria Shilaos on Thursday.

“What we are asking businesses to do is help us with one big push, as we get closer to the July 4th holiday, to get more people vaccinated. We’re asking them to consider incentives they can offer to their customers and employees to get vaccinated,” he said.

In his weekly briefing he officially released the latest COVID-19 numbers, which include 173 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, June 17.

According to Utah health officials, since March 23^rd when vaccinations were opened up to all Utahns over the age of 16, there have been 1,625 hospitalizations, 95.2% of them were unvaccinated patients.

Of the 113 deaths from COVID-19 since that same time period, 98.2% of those deaths were from unvaccinated people. He said cases are slightly increasing in Utah and that health officials believe the Delta variant is in the state. Officials do not believe that variant has been found among those who have been vaccinated.

Cox said the state goal is the same as the national goal — which is 70% of adults being at least party vaccinated (at least one shot) by July 4th. So far, he said just over 64% of adult Utahns have received at least one dose. At the time of publication, the national average was 65%.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Wear a mask.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.
Get vaccinated.