SALT LAKE CITY — COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Utah on the heels of new information from the Centers for Disease Control about how the Delta variant compares to previous strains of the virus.
Friday, an internal document circulated within the CDC revealed the Delta variant may be as contagious as chickenpox, and potentially more contagious (though less deadly) than serious illnesses including smallpox, MERS and Ebola.
For reference, scientists believe each person with chickenpox can or will infect another 8 to 9 unvaccinated people. Every person with the cold or flu could infect another one to two people with those viruses.
In addition, the new information from the CDC reported first by the Washington Post Thursday indicated vaccinated people are just as likely to spread the Delta variant as unvaccinated people.
Bottom line: While vaccinated people do not appear generally to get as sick or to die as unvaccinated people, they can still spread it. This internal document served as the basis for the updated guidance from the CDC that even vaccinated people should wear masks in areas of high COVID-19 transmission.
Friday, the Utah Department of Health reported another 1,211 cases of COVID-19 since the day before. On Thursday, the state reported 1,113 new cases, which represented a new high since February.
State officials say 351 people currently require hospitalization because of COVID-19. 152 of those patients require intensive care.
One woman, identified as a Salt Lake County resident between the ages of 65 and 84, has died since yesterday. So far, 2,451 Utahns have died from COVID-19.
This story will be updated.
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention