RSV rises in Utah children early this year as Utah reports 1,114 new cases of COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health released the following update on COVID-19 in the state on Wednesday:

• 1,114 new cases
• 7 deaths
• 6,823 vaccines administered

The seven-day moving average for positive cases in the state is now 812.

Meanwhile, a recent increase in a common respiratory illness in children has the potential to match an increase in COVID-19 as children in Utah return to school.

Pediatricians saw an increase in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in August, according to Dr. Per Gesteland, a hospitalist at the University of Utah Health and Primary Children’s Hospital. The disease can severely affect infants and toddlers and lead them to hospital.

“This has a substantial impact on the children of our communities,” Gesteland said.

Typically, RSV is a winter illness that peaks in January or February, according to Intermountain. Last winter, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Primary Children’s Hospital had no RSV patients, which has never happened before.

This year, the peak of the RSV started in August, which is also unheard of, Intermountain officials said.

Some Utah health officials have said they expect an increase in COVID-19 cases as they go back to school, as children who are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines could spread the highly contagious delta variant in classrooms.

Gesteland said a peak in RSV has the potential to align with this surge of COVID-19 in the re-entry. This would likely mean additional strain on the state’s healthcare system, which is already stretched, he added.

Gesteland said people should continue to practice preventative measures against COVID-19, such as wearing masks, social distancing and good hand hygiene, which can also stop the spread of RSV.

“Let’s try to come together as a community to stay safe and healthy,” he said.

This story will be updated.

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