SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah increased by 2,160 on Monday, with four more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department now estimates that there are 50,030 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The average number of positive cases per day over seven days is now 2,716, according to the health department. The rate of positive test per day for that time period rose to a record 30.8% – the first time that number was reported above 30%.
The new figures indicate an increase of 0.8% in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 1,752,324 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 16.4% tested positive for COVID-19. The health department reported 6,619 new people tested on Monday, while the total number of tests performed increased by 8,770.
A total of 48,575 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have already been administered in Utah, against 47,382 on Sunday, according to the health department. Health officials note that there is a lapse in data reporting from the moment doses are sent to Utah, administered to patients and then reported to the health department. State data show that 142,875 doses of vaccines have already been sent to Utah.
There are now 484 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 167 in intensive care. Overall, about 83% of all beds in intensive care units in Utah are occupied on Monday, including about 86% of the ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals. About 48% of hospital beds outside the Utah ICU are occupied, state data show.
The four new deaths reported on Monday were:
- A Washington County woman who was over 85 years old and a resident of a long-term institution
- A man from Salt Lake County who was over 85 and was not hospitalized when he died
- A man from Salt Lake County who was 65 to 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A woman from Washington County who was over 85 and was hospitalized when she died
Monday’s totals give Utah 285,633 confirmed cases, with 11,240 hospitalizations and 1,305 total deaths from the disease. It is estimated that the recovery of a total of 234,298 cases of COVID-19, according to the health department.
As the average Utah positive test rate continues to rise, the health department is offering free rapid COVID-19 tests in Utah this week, according to a department press release. Anyone can get tested at clinics, even if they have no symptoms of COVID-19. The goal of the clinics is to more easily identify cases of COVID-19 in the community, including people who may not know they are infected because they have no symptoms.
People are encouraged to pre-register online for testing on the websites. People will also be able to register in person at the clinics, but identification may be required. The full list of sites can be found by clicking on this link.
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.
This story will be updated.
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 from 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.
Related Links
Jacob Klopfenstein