SALT LAKE CITY – Another 462 cases of COVID-19 were reported on Monday, with two more deaths, according to Utah Department of Health officials.
The average number of positive cases per day for seven days is now 951, according to the health department. The average fell below 1,000 on Friday for the first time since October 2, according to the agency’s data.
There were 3,313 more Utahns tested and 6,644 more total tests reported Monday. The average positivity of “people over people” in the state’s seven calendar days fell to 14.1%, while the state’s “test on test” rate dropped to 6.4%.
Health department officials said a Weber County man and Utah County man died as a result of the coronavirus. Both were aged 65 to 84 and both were hospitalized at the time of their deaths.
State data show that there are now 274 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations also continues to fall. Intensive care units at the state referral center were listed at 79% capacity and ICUs at 75% capacity across the state on Monday. Both numbers are now below maximum utilization and slightly above the state target of 77% for referral centers and 72% for state ICUs.
While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to fall, the number of COVID-19 vaccinations is slowly increasing – which is another positive sign. The state reports another 1,033 COVID-19 vaccinations from its Sunday update. A total of 525,033 Utahns have received the COVID-19 vaccine since last December.
Monday’s totals give Utah 361,756 confirmed cases since March 2020, with 14,209 total hospitalizations and 1,796 total deaths from the disease.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Monday, as government offices are closed for the holiday. The next briefing is scheduled for Thursday.
Health department announces more free rapid tests
The state health department also announced the locations and times for more free antigen rapid tests in Utah next week. Sites were selected based on higher regional positivity rates, low test sites, wastewater sampling and other surveillance data.
There are a total of 13 test sites in 10 different counties across the state this week. The health department encourages anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms to get tested, but residents can get tested even if they have no symptoms.
Anyone who wants to take the test is encouraged to register online before receiving a test. People can reach a test site without registering, but they may have to wait longer. Registration for this week’s quick test can be found here.
Box Elder County
- Bear River Middle School (300 E. 1500 in Garland): 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cache County
- Ridgeline High School (180 N. 300 West in Millville): From noon to 7 pm on Friday and Saturday.
- Hyrum Senior Center (695 E. Main in Hyrum): 8 am to 3 pm on Monday and noon to 7 pm on Tuesday.
Duchesne County
- Duchesne Court of Justice (21554 W. 9000 South in Duchesne): from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday.
Grand county
- Southeast Utah Department of Health (575 S. Kane Creek in Moab): 8 am to 3 pm on Friday and noon to 7 pm on Saturday.
Juab County
- Juab School District Office (346 E. 600 North in Nephi): 8 am to 3 pm, Monday and Tuesday.
Salt Lake County
- Herriman High School (11917 S. Mustang Trail in Herriman): 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
- The chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (12691 S. 3600 West in Riverton): noon to 7 pm
Sevier County
- Utah Central Department of Public Health (70 Westview Drive in Richfield): 8 am to 3 pm on Wednesday and 12 pm to 7 pm on Thursday.
Summit County
- South Summit School District (285 E. 400 South in Kamas): 8 am to 3 pm on Friday and 12 pm to 7 pm on Saturday.
- Park City High School (1750 Kearns Bvld. In Park City): from noon to 7 pm, Monday and Tuesday.
Tooele County
- Wendover Fire Department (151 9th Street in Wendover): from noon to 6pm on Monday and Tuesday.
Wasatch County
- Wasatch County Events Complex (415 Southfield Road in Heber City): from noon to 7pm on Wednesday.
Many of the locations will provide drive-thru tests, while others will be conducted inside buildings. Masks and physical distance are encouraged for those waiting in line for a test.
The health department reports that because the antigen test is less sensitive than the PCR test, there is a possibility of false negative results.
“If an individual has symptoms and negative results on the rapid antigen test or an individual does not show symptoms and positive tests on the rapid antigen test, they will be referred for a follow-up confirmation PCR test,” wrote the department.
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.