The Southeast Utah Health Department (SEUHD) is looking at their COVID numbers and anticipate a possible spike now that the holidays are over. Director Brady Bradford stopped by Castle Country Radio to talk about those numbers, testing and the vaccine.

“Expect to start to see something probably Thursday through Saturday of this week, to a general increase in numbers, and really mid next week will be the real measuring time, measuring stick so to speak, of what the results of the holidays are going to be in terms of case increase for COVID statewide and locally,” said Bradford. Carbon, Emery and Grand Counties have been trending in a good direction over the last six weeks. This is due in part to individuals practicing social distancing habits and wearing masks.

Officials thought that the school transmission numbers would grow once school began but it has been surprisingly low. “We were afraid that would persist all through the fall and the winter and we really have not seen the spread of disease in the schools, except in some predictable situations where maybe a team is practicing or playing together and very close and can’t really have a mask on. There’s been spread in situations like that but as far as a classroom setting the kids and teachers, I applaud them again, and I won’t say that there hasn’t been any cases, but if there have been, they’ve been very, very minimal,” stated Bradford. SEUHD applauds the district for following the necessary guidelines set in place for COVID.

Ongoing testing sites and opportunities are still taking place throughout the county if individuals are needing to get tested. “The great news is now most of the test you’ll get will be a rapid test. I know in our office that is what we do. There’s been Test Utah vans you’ve seen those in the community and they’ve transitioned to a rapid test so within 15 to 20 minutes you’ll know results and that’s been very beneficial,” said Bradford. The rapid tests have made it easier for folks to get out and get tested even if they have mild symptoms. There are some cases where a test will need to be sent off and that option is still available when needed.

Some COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed locally to essential workers. “In our district you may see numbers that say we have 1,300 doses, some of those went to the hospitals, Castleview and Moab Regional. The health department has received 700 doses and those right now are non-hospital health care workers and then we will start to transition to more first responders here in the next little bit. But we have reached out to those offices and those individuals to invite them in, there’s some that are choosing not to get that. But all in all, we’ve seen a very good, not really much in the way of reactions to the vaccine,” stated Bradford. To keep up to date on the most recent COVID-19 numbers visit the Southeast Utah Health Department website at https://www.seuhealth.com/