Vaccines were made available to every adult in Utah just over four months ago, a date that, for many people, couldn’t come soon enough.

Winter has since turned to summer, the mass vaccination site at Utah Film Studios has been dismantled and an impressive percentage of Summit County residents have been vaccinated.

But that progress is unfortunately not uniform across Utah or the United States. With a more-transmissible variant of the virus swirling through our communities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended that even fully vaccinated people wear masks in indoor public settings in most counties in the nation — including ours.

For those who were champing at the bit to be vaccinated in March, refreshing their browsers and calling different pharmacies to see which had the vaccine they preferred, the recommendation might feel like a significant step backward, evidence, perhaps, that their efforts to combat the pandemic have been in vain.

Indeed, the setback is particularly galling given that the vaccine, the key to a post-pandemic future, has been widely available in the United States for several months. The same cannot be said for most countries.

On top of the frustration people might feel about the pandemic’s resurgence and how it has been aided by those who shun the vaccine, people may also be feeling slightly confused.

What are the best practices in this version of the new normal? What are the precautions we should take? Do we have to wear masks all the time again?

Those are challenging questions to answer. For now, we can work toward a safer community by simply using common sense.

When eyeing the tomatoes at the grocery store, give a fellow customer some space before stepping in.

Wear a mask when in close quarters with others, especially inside and especially when it’s for a long period of time. Carry a mask and be prepared to use it even if you don’t think it will be necessary.

And give some grace to others who may not be operating as you see fit, remembering that many COVID susceptibilities are unapparent: the immunocompromised relative, the live-in grandparent, the unvaccinated child.

Parkites have banded together repeatedly to lessen the effects of the pandemic, and are unfortunately being called on to do so again.

With ski season and the school year on the horizon, wearing a mask in crowded, indoor places is the right thing to do.

The post Record editorial: Amid changing mask advice, common sense is required in this version of the ‘new normal’ appeared first on Park Record.

How great these recent weeks have felt in Park City. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we could free ourselves of masks, gather with friends and family and head out to a concert at Deer Valley or the Park Silly Sunday Market.

The trouble is, despite how it might have felt, the pandemic is not in the past. As recent case numbers show, we’re still very much in the heart of it.

The state reported more than 2,000 new cases between Friday and Tuesday. The average number of new cases over the previous week was 622 as of Tuesday, higher than it’s been since the end of February, a week before vaccines were made available to Utahns 50 or older. It’s only 10 daily cases short of where we were one year ago, when vaccines remained only a hope on the horizon.

Health officials have been calling this stage a “pandemic of the unvaccinated,” and indeed, nearly all of the COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations have come from those who haven’t had a shot.

But along with the anti-vaxx and vaccine-hesitant crowds, there’s one group with low vaccination rates that doesn’t immediately spring to mind: young people aged 12-15.

In some places, the vaccination rate among this age group is dismal. As of July 20, only 27% of people on the East Side aged 12-15 had received the first dose of the vaccine, according to the Summit County Health Department. On the West Side, that number was 66%. The numbers also show almost no movement from earlier this month.

With the first day in Summit County’s school districts approaching in mid-August, the deadline has already passed for the unvaccinated in that age group to achieve full immunity before classes start. For the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, the only one to have received emergency use authorization for people aged 12-18, the process to become fully immunized takes five weeks.

But it’s not too late — parents should have their 12-and-older children vaccinated as soon as possible to protect them and others from the disease.

Even though the virus has been less dangerous for younger people, not every child escapes unscathed from a bout with COVID. The disease has hospitalized more than 700 Utahns 18 and under since the pandemic began.

Vaccinating may also slow the virus’s spread, as children have proven to be adept transmitters of the disease even if they don’t appear or feel sick. And the closer we get to herd immunity, the less of a chance the virus will have to mutate into a form that can render vaccines ineffective.

Thankfully we live in a place where vaccines are readily available. Let’s take advantage of that. It’s a small measure that could go a long way to stamping out the virus for good.

For information about the vaccine or to receive a dose, head to a pharmacy, check with your doctor or visit coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine.

The post Record editorial: Now is the time to vaccinate eligible students before school starts appeared first on Park Record.

Once the strangeness of being around so many people subsided, the crowds and festivities at Park City’s Fourth of July parade felt like a relief.

It was a touch of normalcy, though it was different than in years past, and not just because it was on July 2. A year ago, officials canceled the parade and fireworks amid fears that attracting thousands of people to one place could carry grave consequences.

We’ve come a long way since last year’s dark summer, and there’s much to be proud of this Independence Day: Our vaccination rate in Summit County is the best in the state; our economy seems to have bounced back, though challenges remain for restaurants and any establishment looking to hire employees; and our community is starting to get back to normal.

This progress didn’t happen by accident. Parkites accomplished it through real sacrifice and hard work. People sought vaccines as early as they could, they volunteered, they donated, they wore masks, they avoided gatherings and they heeded officials’ advice. None of it was easy.

This shared sacrifice is the sort of quiet patriotism that deserves reflection and praise this Independence Day.

This nation — and this community — are at their best when people come together, forge common cause and work toward the same goal.

There are countless examples of this in our nation’s history and, closer to home, we see examples of this in the everyday acts that Parkites do to better our community.

Especially this summer, we have ample opportunity to do our part. We can harden our properties against fire, use less water, take public transportation or encourage others to get vaccinated.

This past year, through one of the most trying times in our nation’s and our community’s history, we proved what we can do when unified. And when celebrating the birthday of the United States, what better tribute is there than that?

The post Record editorial: Park City’s patriotism shown in shared sacrifice during pandemic appeared first on Park Record.

Each week, The Park Record asks For the Record, encouraging residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. This week, Summit County officials are continuing to look at the impact mental health and substance abuse have on the county’s population. A community-wide initiative to improve access and awareness to public programs has pleased county officials, though they also admit more needs to be done.

The Park Record wants to know your thoughts on the community’s effort to improve mental health and substance abuse treatment. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.

Andrea Donegan, Thaynes Canyon
“Access. As far as I know, if you want to go to classes or go to Valley Behavioral Health you’d still have to pay a certain amount, I think $50 minimum to get in. A lot of people who do need the help can’t afford that. So making it more affordable.”

Hilary Packman, Park Meadows
“I’m trying to think if I know of anything that’s available. More knowledge (about services) in general, making it more available because I don’t even know of anything that people would even go to off the top of my head. It’s not well advertised.”

Tristan Painter, Evanston, Wyo.
“It needs to be treated as more of a priority I guess. In Wyoming, it’s kind of ignored, and we have the state hospital in Evanston so they’re starting to finally build more and add to it so they can treat more people. I guess just treat it as less of a taboo and more of an issue.”

Emily Leslie, Deer Valley
“Does (Summit County) have a rehab facility? I know there’s Valley Behavioral Health, but I think that’s kind of it. That would be a great idea, I think. I know Cirque is really far, in Orem. It’s really amazing, and I know Park City could use one.”

Mitchell Elliott, Thaynes Canyon
“Is there a (Summit County) hotline? That’d be a good place to start, you know? If people need to reach out and if they had a number they could call, I’m sure that’d be a great (change).”

Emma Helfin, San Diego
“I think the stigma surrounding it is a big thing. The legality issues when people don’t want to report (an overdose) because they’re afraid of going to prison is, I think, not the greatest way to handle it.”

Quotations have been edited for clarity and length.

Editor’s note: the following resources are available for mental health and substance abuse services:

• Valley Behavioral Health Summit County crisis number: 435-649-8347
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline: 1-800-662-4357
• SafeUT App
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 or text LISTEN to 741741

The post For the Record: What improvements to mental health and substance abuse treatment are needed in Summit County? appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s For The Record, we asked some furry and feathered friends this question — If a moose is elected mayor of Park City, what should be at the top of his agenda? (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | APRIL FOOLS appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s collection of portraits from For The Record, we asked people around town if they think Park City is getting too busy during the ski season and how they’re dealing with it. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | March 23, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s collection of portraits from For The Record, we asked people at Uncorked at the Stein Eriksen Lodge what they think about Utah’s proposal to lower the blood alcohol content for a DUI from .08 to .05. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | March 2, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s collection of portraits from For The Record, we asked people at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church how they think the community should respond to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | Feb. 23, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s collection of portraits from For The Record, we asked people at Canyons Village who their favorite President is and why. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | Feb. 15, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.

In this week’s collection of portraits from For The Record, we asked people at Starbucks on Park Ave. what they’re doing for Valentine’s Day. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

The post PHOTOS: For The Record | Feb. 9, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.