8 states, including Utah, see rise in daily average of coronavirus cases

The good news is that new coronavirus cases are dropping, on average, nationwide, but the bad news is that eight U.S. states have seen an increase of positive COVID-19 test results — and Utah is one of them.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, the Beehive State, along with Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming, have reported a hike in their seven-day average of coronavirus cases, The Associated Press reported Sunday.

Seven of those states — minus Hawaii, where 55% of the population is vaccinated — have vaccination rates below the national average of 43.7%, according to the AP, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The states with the lowest average number of pandemic cases have a higher than average percent of their populations vaccinated, reported the AP.