SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah increased by 1,716 on Monday, with five more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The average number of positive cases per day over seven days is now 1,969, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that period is now 24.4%.
Also on Monday, state officials announced that Utahns aged 75 and over could receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as mid-February, according to Phase 2 of Utah’s plan to distribute the vaccine.
New COVID-19 cases
The state now estimates that there are 49,129 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The new figures indicate an increase of 0.6% in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 1,698,105 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 15.7% tested positive for COVID-19. Another 4,976 new people were tested for the disease on Monday, and a total of 7,082 more tests were carried out, state data show.
There are now 498 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, according to the health department. Of these, 168 are occupying beds in intensive care units across the state. About 79% of all ICU beds in the state are occupied on Monday, including about 83% of all ICU beds in Utah’s 16 referral hospitals, according to state data. About 43% of non-ICU hospital beds are occupied as of Monday.
As of Monday, a total of 17,543 COVID-19 vaccines have already been administered, against 16,992 doses given on Sunday.
The five deaths reported on Monday were:
- Salt Lake County woman over 85 years old and resident in a long-term care facility
- A woman from Utah County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A woman from Davis County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was a resident of a long-term institution
- A man from Duchesne County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County woman who was over 85 years old and a resident of a long-term institution
Monday’s totals give Utah 266,590 confirmed cases, with 10,643 hospitalizations and 1,219 deaths from the disease. A total of 216,242 Utah COVID-19 cases are now estimated to be recovered, according to the health department.
Phase 2 vaccine plans announced
The Utah Department of Health announced on Monday the details of Phase 2 of the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to begin in February. Utah’s COVID-19 Unified Command group adopted the health department’s recommendations for the second phase of the vaccine under the direction of Governor Gary Herbert, according to a press release.
“We have seen older adults bear the most serious burden of the disease in our state and across the country,” said interim executive director of the health department, Rich Saunders, in the statement. “These individuals are much more likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care and die of COVID-19. Ensuring that these members of our community receive the vaccine as early as possible will save lives and help reduce the burden on our hospitals. “
Phase 1 of the vaccine distribution plan began earlier this month. Frontline health professionals, residents and employees of long-term care facilities, as well as tribal and public health professionals, are now being vaccinated according to the plan.
Elementary and high school teachers and first respondents will be the next groups to receive the vaccine, probably in late January, the press release said.
People over 65 are much more likely to experience serious effects from COVID-19. In Utah, 77% of all deaths from the disease so far have been in people 65 and older, the statement said.
“As we move into Phase 2 of our vaccination program, it simply makes more sense to vaccinate those who are most at risk of hospitalization and death first,” said Herbert. “We will continue to refine our plans and move forward on the principle that those who suffer the most should be vaccinated first.”
Other groups that will receive the vaccine in phase 2 have not been announced, according to the health department; however, Utahns are likely to be prioritized by age groups, the statement said.
Utahns with underlying medical conditions and living in certain “congregated environments” can also be vaccinated in Phase 2, the statement said. The health department is no longer considering the employment situation or type of work when prioritizing vaccine groups.
“Focusing on age will do more to reduce infections and relieve hospitalizations than any other category of individuals as we continue to administer vaccines,” Governor-elect Spencer Cox said in the note. “I support this change very much and I know it will save lives.”
When Phase 2 begins, people will receive the vaccine at mass vaccination clinics in their local health departments. Later, in Phase 2, vaccines will be distributed through local pharmacies and primary care providers, the statement said.
Additional details from Phase 2, such as how vaccine clinics will check the ages of people seeking vaccines, have yet to be determined. More information about Utah’s vaccination plans is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Monday. Utah officials often provide updates at press conferences once a week, on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Methodology:
The test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive results from the COVID-19 test are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results can take 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the Utah outbreak, including those who are infected, those who have recovered from the disease and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.
Referral hospitals are Utah’s 16 hospitals capable of providing the best COVID-19 healthcare.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days before they were reported, according to the health department. Some deaths can be even older, especially if the person is from Utah, but died in another state.
The health department reports deaths from confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases according to the case definition outlined by the State Council and Territorial Epidemiologists. Death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths reported as deaths by COVID-19, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
The data included in this story mainly reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district’s website.
More information about Utah’s health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
The information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. 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.
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Jacob Klopfenstein