COVID-19 virus claims 35th victim, residents receiving vaccine

COVID-19 has claimed new victims in San Juan County, with the death toll growing to 35 local residents who have passed away with the virus since the pandemic hit in March 2020.

Three fatalities occurred in December, including a woman in her 30s from the Blanding area, a man in his 40s from the Montezuma Creek area, and a woman in her 40s from the Montezuma Creek area.

The three latest fatalities are also the youngest COVID fatalities from San Juan County.

While the death toll continues to grow, the distribution of vaccines to combat COVID-19 is also growing.

Local health organizations are distributing the vaccine, which is administered in two separate doses.

So far, more than 100,000 Utahns have received the first dose of the vaccine, including a large number of San Juan County residents.

Distribution of the vaccine is moving down the priority list, with the first doses going to frontline health care workers, first responders, and the residents and workers at assisted living centers.

Area residents who are over the age of 74 and teachers and staff in area schools are also receiving the vaccine.

In total, more than 1,600 local residents have tested positive for the virus. This represents nearly 11 percent of county residents. Of those who have contracted the virus, an estimated 1,331 have recovered.

There are currently 247 active cases in San Juan County, including 86 cases in the Montezuma Creek area, 63 cases in the Monument Valley area, and 61 cases in the Blanding area.

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