CORONAVIRUS

Flu Vaccine Available As Utah Prepares For More Antigen COVID-19 Tests

Sep 3, 2020, 2:54 PM | Updated: 4:23 pm

FILE (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)...

FILE (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As Utah continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus, state officials urged residents to get the flu vaccine as the state prepared to receive more COVID-19 antigen tests, which can give results in 15 minutes.

“We are fortunate to actually have a flu vaccine so it’s really important now, more than ever to get vaccinated against the flu this fall,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn.

Dunn added measures to prevent the flu will also help prevent infection by the coronavirus.

Her comments came during Thursday’s weekly pandemic update.

“The symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can be quite similar with fever, fatigue, cough and other such symptoms,” Dunn said. “However, the fact that we have a flu vaccine really helps us to control the spread of flu and COVID-19 is proving to be more deadly than the flu.”

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She said it’s never too early to get a flu shot.

“We’re seeing higher numbers of deaths due to COVID-19 and likely more serious long-term effects from COVID-19 than the flu, for those who survive. So, let’s take every possible measure to protect ourselves and our community this fall so that our schools and our businesses can continue to stay open safely,” Dunn said.

Dunn also clarified news from last week in which the Centers for Disease Control said asymptomatic testing is no longer needed.

“Here in Utah, we’re really fortunate to have robust testing capacity, so we’re going to encourage asymptomatic and visual individuals to still get tested for COVID,” Dunn said.

Testing in Utah is about to get easier as Gov. Gary Herbert announced the Department of Health and Human Services is going to ship 150 million rapid antigen tests to the states.

Herbert called the antigen tests quicker and easier. “You take a swap and put on a piece of paper and they’re quicker. You can have the results in 15 minutes,” he said.

Herbert said HHS has identified priority groups that will get the rapid test first, which includes first responders, teachers and other personnel who are involved with critical infrastructure.

In addition, University of Utah Health officials said saliva testing is underway at the U.’s four COVID-19 in-car testing sites. Those are located at their health centers in Sugar House, Redwood, South Jordan and Farmington.

Herbert also announced that Salt Lake City will be allowed to move from the orange restriction phase to yellow and Sevier County can make the move to the green phase starting Friday morning.

Sevier County will be the 11th Utah county in the green restriction level.

Residents and businesses can get more information on what the new restrictions mean at coronavirus.utah.gov.

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Flu Vaccine Available As Utah Prepares For More Antigen COVID-19 Tests