Gov. Cox released the following statement:

“Monoclonal antibody treatments are another tool in the toolbox to keep people out of the hospital, and as a state, we are working to administer every available dose to those who need it. The antibody infusion has proven to be effective, but it can only be administered after a high-risk person has tested positive for the virus. The vaccines remain the best way to prevent someone from being hospitalized because of COVID-19. Around 90 percent of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated. ” 

Since November 2020, approximately 7,100 Utahns have received monoclonal antibody infusions, preventing an estimated 900 hospitalizations. When identified early and treated with monoclonal antibodies, one in eight Utahns who have tested positive for COVID and are at the highest risk of severe disease have avoided hospitalization.

Utah has typically been allocated 1,330 monoclonal antibody doses a week. Treatment time takes about 2 hours, including registration, preparation, infusion and 1 hour of monitoring afterward.

Eligibility for monoclonal antibodies includes:

• Testing positive for COVID-19.
• Not currently hospitalized for COVID-19.
• Doctor referral.
• No  more than 7 days from symptom onset.
• High risk for hospitalization (using the risk score calculator tab on coronavirus-stage.at.utah.gov/noveltherapeutics)

More information about monoclonal antibodies is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ivermectin is NOT a COVID-19 drug; there is no data to suggest this drug has any impact on COVID-19 infection. The continued promotion of the drug has led to an increase in people buying veterinary ivermectin and being hospitalized due to side effects of ingesting the drug. The CDC and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have seen a recent increase in calls related to severe side effects due to ivermectin.

“I strongly encourage clinical providers to consider the harm they may cause if they provide ivermectin to patients with COVID-19 infection. While there is no data showing it helps with COVID-19 there is very strong data showing it can do harm. I also encourage pharmacists to question any prescriptions for high-dose ivermectin that is inappropriate for their clients,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, State epidemiologist at the UDOH.

The Utah Poison Control Center has seen a 4.5 times higher rate of ivermectin exposures in 2021 compared with 2020. “Ivermectin exposures related to the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 account for 56% of exposures reported to us for this drug in 2021. Fifty percent of people who called us after using ivermectin as a way to treat or prevent COVID-19 have received medical help because of the exposure,” said Amberly Johnson, director of the Utah Poison Control Center.

Call the Utah Poison Control Center if you have taken ivermectin and are worried about side effects. Poison specialists are available 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222. For emergencies, call 911.

Veterinary ivermectin is used to treat parasites in horses and other animals and is not safe for human use. Human ivermectin treatments have much lower doses than ivermectin used in large animals and are not approved by the FDA to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. To date, there is no evidence that ivermectin can treat or prevent COVID-19. The FDA strongly discourages self-treatment of COVID-19 with ivermectin because it can result in serious injury and hospitalization.

“The recent uptick in reports of ivermectin misuse are concerning. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food does not endorse the misuse of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 and encourages individuals to consult with a qualified healthcare provider before undergoing any course of treatment,” says Dr. Dean Taylor, State Veterinarian.

In addition to the dangers of becoming seriously ill, the American Veterinary Medical Association warns this can lead to local shortages of veterinary-use approved ivermectin products critical for the health of livestock. The AVMA has developed warning signs for veterinarians and retailers at https://www.fda.gov/media/151853/download.

If you have questions about COVID-19, please talk to a healthcare provider. The most effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider about available COVID-19 vaccines and treatment options. Your provider can help determine the best option for you, based on your health history.

La ivermectina NO es un fármaco utilizado para tratar el COVID-19; no hay datos que sugieran que este fármaco tenga ningún efecto sobre la infección por COVID-19. La continua promoción del fármaco ha llevado a un aumento de personas que compran ivermectina veterinaria y son hospitalizadas debido a los efectos secundarios de la ingestión del fármaco. Los CDC y la Asociación Americana de Centros de Control de Intoxicaciones han observado un aumento reciente de las llamadas relacionadas con efectos secundarios graves debidos a la ivermectina.

“Recomiendo firmemente a los proveedores clínicos a que consideren el daño que pueden causar si suministran ivermectina a los pacientes con infección por el COVID-19. Si bien no hay datos que demuestren que ayuda con el COVID-19, hay datos muy sólidos que demuestran que puede ser perjudicial. También recomiendo a los farmacéuticos a cuestionar cualquier prescripción de altas dosis de ivermectina que sea inapropiada para sus clientes”, dijo la Dra. Leisha Nolen, epidemióloga estatal del
UDOH.

El Centro de Control de Intoxicaciones de Utah ha visto una tasa 4,5 veces mayor de exposiciones a la ivermectina en 2021 en comparación con el 2020. “Las exposiciones a la ivermectina relacionadas con el tratamiento o la prevención del COVID-19 representan el 56% de las exposiciones que se nos han notificado por este medicamento en el 2021. El 50% de las personas que nos llamaron después de usar ivermectina como forma de tratar o prevenir el COVID-19 han recibido ayuda médica debido a la exposición”, dijo Amberly Johnson, directora del Centro de Control de Intoxicaciones de Utah.

Llame al Centro de Control de Intoxicaciones de Utah si ha tomado ivermectina y está preocupado por los efectos secundarios. Los especialistas en envenenamiento están disponibles las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, en el teléfono 1-800-222-1222. En caso de emergencia, llame al 911.

La ivermectina veterinaria se utiliza para tratar parásitos en caballos y otros animales y no es segura para el uso humano. Los tratamientos con ivermectina en humanos tienen dosis mucho más bajas que la ivermectina utilizada en animales grandes y no están aprobados por la FDA para tratar o prevenir la infección viral del SARS-CoV-2. Hasta la fecha, no hay pruebas de que la ivermectina pueda tratar o prevenir el COVID-19. La FDA desaconseja firmemente el autotratamiento del COVID-19 con ivermectina porque puede provocar lesiones graves y hospitalización.

“El reciente aumento de los informes sobre el mal uso de la ivermectina es
preocupante. El Departamento de Agricultura y Alimentación de Utah no respalda el uso indebido de la ivermectina para tratar el COVID-19 y anima a las personas a consultar con un proveedor de atención médica cualificado antes de someterse a cualquier tratamiento”, afirma el Dr. Dean Taylor, veterinario del Estado.

Además de los peligros de enfermarse gravemente, la Asociación Médica Veterinaria Americana (AVMA, por su siglas en inglés) advierte que esto puede provocar una escasez local de productos de ivermectina aprobados para el uso veterinario, críticos para la salud del ganado. La AVMA ha elaborado señales de advertencia para los veterinarios y los minoristas en https://www.fda.gov/media/151853/download.

Si tiene preguntas sobre el COVID-19, hable con un proveedor de servicios de salud. La forma más eficaz de limitar la propagación del COVID-19 es vacunarse. Hable con su proveedor de atención médica sobre las vacunas contra el COVID-19 disponibles y las opciones de tratamiento. Su proveedor puede ayudar a determinar la mejor opción para usted, basándose en su historial de salud.

As is the case with all vaccines, the UDOH recommends providers wait for final guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prior to administering COVID-19 booster doses to immunocompromised patients.

“We are excited about the FDA’s announcement regarding the use of boosters for people who are immunocompromised. We will be following today’s ACIP meeting closely in order to provide additional guidance on who will benefit most from an additional dose,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, UDOH state epidemiologist. “We are working to calculate the size of this population, but we currently have a large supply of vaccine in the state, and providers have the ability to order additional doses if needed.”

ACIP is currently scheduled to meet later this morning to discuss booster doses for people who are immunocompromised.

To find a vaccination site near you, visit our vaccine distribution page.

Quarantine and isolation were vital to controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially before safe and effective vaccines were widely available.

Over the past few months, the rate of new applications has decreased significantly, with only a handful of new applications made in the past week. At the height of the pandemic, the Utah Labor Commission received hundreds of applications per week. 

The state made $5 million available to small businesses over the course of the grant program. We’re pleased to report that Utah provided more than $4.2 million to 858 businesses of 50 or fewer employees. 

Grant program statistics since Oct. 1

• Applications submitted: 3,039
• Applications approved: 2,744
• Applicant businesses: 858
• Average applications (employees) per business: 3.54
• Average grant amount: $1,534.78
• Grant amount remaining:  $788,541.05

Frequently asked questions

How did the state fund this grant?
The first $2.5 million was funded through the CARES Act, and the second $2.5 million was from the General Fund. 

What happens to the unspent portion of the grant?
The unspent portion is from the General Fund and will be returned to the General Fund for other state needs or pandemic response. 

Why not just keep the grant going?
The number of requests has dwindled significantly. But the state of Utah remains flexible and could reinstate the grant program if the need arises. We encourage all eligible Utahns to get vaccinated as the best protection against COVID-19. The vast majority of people who are getting sick and being hospitalized from COVID-19 have not been vaccinated. We encourage businesses and community organizations to schedule a mobile vaccination clinic at a location of their choosing at coronavirus-stage.at.utah.gov.

What were the eligibility requirements for small businesses?

• Less than 50 employees in Utah.
• One or more of your employees receiving notice that the employee must quarantine or isolate due to a positive COVID-19 test or exposure to someone who has tested positive.
• Continued to pay out regular wages to an employee(s) while the employee was in quarantine/isolation and unable to work.

Small business owners with less than 50 employees can go to https://coronavirus.utah.gov/business/business-loans-and-grants/, https://laborcommission.utah.gov, or https://business.utah.gov/, for more information and to fill out a grant application until June 30, 2021.

The temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment for the program begins on May 12, 2021.

“Broadband internet is vital for Utahns’ economic well-being, including participation in and access to online work, school, healthcare, and other essential services,” said Dan Hemmert, GOED’s executive director. “We know there are households that need to connect to the internet for essential services but can’t afford it. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will help to ensure every household in Utah has access to the benefits of online connection as we complete our pandemic recovery.”

The $3.2 billion program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying tribal lands.

Additionally, the benefit provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the
purchase through a participating broadband provider.

Eligible households must include a member that meets one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in specific assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or the FCC’s Lifeline program
• Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• Experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

GOED, and its partners in the EBB program, realize the benefit is critical to ensuring as many Utah households are connected to broadband as possible.

“This program extends a low-cost opportunity for internet and computing devices to households who may not have qualified for previous programs like Lifeline,” said Utah State Librarian Chaundra Johnson. “The Utah State Library urges community partners to spread the word and make sure Utah’s most vulnerable populations have a chance to participate in this unique discount program.”

Additionally, this program will provide financial relief to historically underserved communities navigating increasingly digital spaces.

“The full use of digital tools and technology is imperative to a thriving and equitable society for multicultural communities and families in Utah,” said Nubia Peña, director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.

Dr. Sydnee Dickson, superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, commented, “We have to treat broadband as an essential utility, like electricity, to bridge the digital divide and resulting knowledge gap for families.”

Additional Information

Informational materials have been created by the organizations and will be available for statewide distribution. Visit GOED’s Emergency Broadband Benefit webpage for information about how to apply for the program.

Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or by calling 833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (EDT) any day of the week.

Additional financial relief resources related to the pandemic can be found on our Community Resources page.

El Departamento de Salud de Utah (UDOH) recomienda a los proveedores de vacunas de todo el estado que se familiaricen con las recomendaciones de los CDC para vacunar a este grupo de edad y que empiecen a ofrecer las vacunas en cuanto puedan.

Aproximadamente 215.000 niños de Utah están en este grupo de edad y ahora son elegibles para recibir la vacuna. 

“Cuanto antes empiecen los proveedores a vacunar a estos niños, mejor”, dijo el gobernador Spencer J. Cox. “Muchos padres en Utah han estado esperando esta noticia para poder asegurarse de que sus familias estén más protegidas. Esto permitirá que las reuniones con la familia y los amigos sean más seguras y que el verano sea épico”.

Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, 23.419 niños de Utah de entre 12 y 15 años han sido diagnosticados con el COVID-19. Aproximadamente 201 niños de 12 a 15 años necesitaron ser hospitalizados. De los que requirieron hospitalización, 14 desarrollaron el síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico en niños (MIS-C). El MIS-C es una enfermedad grave que puede provocar la muerte.

“A pesar del pensamiento popular, muchos niños contraen COVID-19. Algunos de ellos se enferman lo suficiente como para requerir tratamiento en hospitales y algunos sufren efectos secundarios graves y potencialmente duraderos en tasas similares a las de los adultos, incluso cuando eran asintomáticos o sólo tenían síntomas leves en el momento de su infección”, dijo la Dra. Michelle Hofmann, subdirectora del UDOH. “Proteger a todos estos niños con la vacuna es un paso muy importante en la respuesta al COVID-19”.

Los CDC también han modificado sus recomendaciones sobre la administración de las vacunas contra el COVID-19 al mismo tiempo que otras vacunas. La vacuna contra el COVID-19 puede administrarse ahora simultáneamente con otras vacunas.

“En los últimos 15 meses hemos observado un aumento en el número de niños de Utah a los que se les deben aplicar las vacunas de rutina”, dijo Rich Lakin, director del programa de inmunización del UDOH. “Con este cambio de los CDC tenemos una importante oportunidad no sólo de vacunar a los adolescentes contra el COVID-19, sino también de poner a estos niños al día con otras vacunas de rutina”.

La FDA autorizó el uso de la vacuna en niños de entre 12 y 15 años a principios de esta semana tras revisar los datos de los ensayos clínicos de Pfizer-BioNTech. Los ensayos incluyeron a 2.260 participantes de este grupo de edad. De ellos, 1.131 participantes adolescentes recibieron la vacuna y 1.129 recibieron un placebo salino.

La FDA ha informado de que no se produjo ningún caso de COVID-19 entre los que recibieron la vacuna y 16 casos de COVID-19 entre los que recibieron el placebo. La vacuna fue 100% efectiva en la prevención del COVID-19 en el ensayo clínico.

Los efectos secundarios más comúnmente reportados, que normalmente duraron de 1 a 3 días, en los adolescentes participantes en el ensayo clínico fueron dolor en el lugar de la inyección, cansancio, dolor de cabeza, escalofríos, dolor muscular, fiebre y dolor en las articulaciones.

La FDA ha actualizado las Hojas informativas para los proveedores de atención médica que administran la vacuna (proveedores de vacunación) y para los Consumidores y cuidadores con información que refleja el uso de la vacuna en la población de adolescentes, incluyendo los beneficios y los riesgos de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 de Pfizer-BioNTech.

Para obtener más información sobre cómo encontrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en Utah, visite https://coronavirus.utah.gov/espanol/

Para encontrar un sitio de vacunación, visite nuestra página web de distribución de vacunas.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) recommends vaccine providers throughout the state become familiar with the CDC’s recommendations for vaccinating this age group, and to begin offering vaccines as soon as they are able.

Approximately 215,000 Utah children fall into this age group and are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

“The sooner providers start vaccinating these kids the better,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “Many Utah parents have been waiting for this news so they can make sure their families are more fully protected. This will mean safer gatherings with family and friends and an epic summer.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 23,419 Utah children ages 12-15 have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Approximately 201 12-15 year olds needed to be hospitalized. Of those requiring hospitalization in that age group, 14 developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C is a serious condition that can lead to death.

“Despite popular thinking, many kids get COVID-19. Some of them get sick enough to require treatment in hospitals and some suffer from serious, potentially long-lasting side effects at rates similar to adults, even when they were asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms at the time of their infection,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director of the UDOH. “Protecting these kids by getting them vaccinated is such an important milestone in the COVID-19 response.”

The CDC also adjusted its recommendations on administering COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as other vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine may now be given simultaneously with other vaccines.

“Over the past 15 months we have seen an increase in the number of Utah kids who are overdue for routine immunizations,” said Rich Lakin, immunization program manager at the UDOH. “With this change from the CDC we have an important opportunity to not only vaccinate adolescents against COVID-19, but to also catch these kids up on other routine vaccinations.”

The FDA authorized use of the vaccine in children ages 12-15 earlier this week after reviewing data from Pfizer-BioNTech’s clinical trials. The trials included 2,260 participants in this age group. Of these, 1,131 adolescent participants received the vaccine and 1,129 received a saline placebo.

The FDA reports no cases of COVID-19 occurred among vaccine recipients and 16 cases of COVID-19 occurred among placebo recipients. The vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in the clinical trial.

The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted 1-3 days, in the adolescent clinical trial participants were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain.

The FDA has updated the Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers Administering the Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and for Recipients and Caregivers with information to reflect the use of the vaccine in the adolescent population, including the benefits and risks of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

For more information on how to find a COVID-19 vaccine in Utah visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/

To find a vaccine site near you, visit our vaccine distribution page.

“This is the natural next step in getting the state and people’s lives back to normal,” Gov. Cox said. “I believe in the value of work. With the nation’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.9% and plenty of good paying jobs available today, it makes sense to transition away from these extra benefits that were never intended to be permanent. The market should not be competing with government for workers.”

Approximately 28,000 Utahns are currently receiving this additional $300-per-week federal benefit. Of those, 11,000 are receiving federal extended benefits, 2,500 individuals receive federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and 200 receive federal Mixed-Earner Unemployment Compensation. Currently, federal pandemic unemployment assistance in Utah totals $12.4 million a week. 

With the state’s economic recovery in full swing, there is no shortage of jobs in Utah. The Department of Workforce Services website, jobs.utah.gov, has 50,000 available job openings, while job listings aggregator Help Wanted shows 72,000 available jobs in Utah. 

“As employers compete for workers, we are ready to help those local businesses recruit and hire employees,” said Casey Cameron, executive director of the Department of Workforce Services. “For job seekers, we can provide career coaching, education assistance, job search help and more, either online or in-person at an employment center. For many workers, this transition can be a great time to gain additional skills and open doors to new opportunities.”

Utah’s business community applauded the move.

“All across Utah, in a variety of industries, we are seeing the significant need for new employees,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “The challenge our economy currently faces is not the scarcity of well-paying jobs, but the lack of workers. For our state to remain a national economic leader and for our communities to be prosperous, we need to normalize the labor market by assisting those currently unemployed to find opportunities to rejoin the workforce as soon as possible.”

For those who need help finding employment, the state is an incredible resource. Through the Learn and Work program, the state of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education have dedicated $16.5 million to help more than 5,700 individuals get training and find better employment opportunities. Over the next several weeks an additional $15 million will be awarded to training institutions throughout the state to help those who want to upgrade their skills to enhance employment opportunities. Funding is also available for career and education advancement through Workforce Services.

For those still struggling due to the pandemic, other safety net programs are available such as rent, utility, food and medical assistance. For more information about additional pandemic relief programs and details about the federal unemployment insurance programs ending, visit jobs.utah.gov.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is encouraged by today’s news that the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.

As is the case with all vaccines, the UDOH recommends providers wait for final guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prior to administering COVID-19 vaccine to anyone ages 12-15 years. 

ACIP is currently scheduled to meet this Wednesday, May 12, and is expected to issue its recommendation during the meeting.  Individual providers will determine how quickly they can begin administering vaccine following ACIP’s guidance.

“There are approximately 215,000 Utah children in this age group and expanding vaccine access to them will push us even closer to the finish line in our battle against COVID-19,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director of the UDOH. “Data presented by Pfizer indicate its vaccine is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in this age group. In fact, none of the clinical trial participants who received the vaccine ever became infected with COVID-19.”

To find a vaccination site and learn about Utah vaccine eligibility, visit our vaccine distribution webpage.