Southern Utah COVID-19 record shattered

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KDXU) - The record for daily COVID-19 infections was shattered Thursday after leaders from Intermountain Healthcare say the St. George Regional Hospital is moving into 'full crisis mode' during the Omicron variant.

The Utah Department of Health is reporting 517 new COVID-19 infections in Southern Utah Thursday, breaking the December 20 record of 363 cases in 2020.

"We're beginning the year in a real dire situation," says Michelle Hoffman, the Deputy Director for the state health department.

Governor Spencer Cox is also asking Utahns again, to get vaccinated and get booster shots as COVID-19 cases surge.

He also praised healthcare workers for their work over the last two years, asking Utahns to do everything they can to help ease the burden on caregivers.

The state set another record Thursday with nearly 9,000 positive COVID-19 tests.