SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported seven COVID-19 deaths in the state Tuesday.

The health department also reported 613 new COVID-19 cases as Utah continues experiencing a surge in the disease driven largely by the spread of the delta variant among unvaccinated people.

But health officials have said nearly all Utah COVID-19 deaths over the past six months have been unvaccinated people, and vaccination uptake rates are typically worse for younger age groups.

The health department also reported that 338 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, and 5,204 new vaccinations were administered.

Public health officials have said the pandemic would be temporary for the last 18 months, Spivak pointed out.

The fatigue has spread into the health care industry, where doctors and nurses are weary from treating patients, and from hearing that people won't get vaccinated, Spivak added.

Vaccination mandates might also make sense in health care or school settings, she said.

"I think there are clearly other ways that we have to push people to get vaccinated," Spivak said.

For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the "Data Notes" section at the bottom of the page