(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pharmacy technician Mikaela Brigino, center, joins other healthcare professionals as they prepare the Modern COVID-19 vaccine for seniors and assisted living workers The Ridge Foothill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday Monday, December 29, 2020, as deployment continues in long-term care institutions.
Utah saw another 4,672 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday – a one-day record for Utah, which Governor-elect Spencer Cox said could indicate that the state will end 2020 and begin 2021 with a post-Christmas coronavirus spike.
Last week, the state averaged 2,288 new positive test results per day, the Utah Department of Health reported. That is 255 more than the previous seven-day average.
The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Utah rose to 1,269 on Thursday, with 13 deaths recorded since Thursday. UDOH identified these 13 Utahns as:
• Two men from Davis County, both aged 65 to 84.
• Three men from Salt Lake County: one between 45 and 64, the other two over 85.
• An over 85-year-old woman from Tooele County.
• Two Utah County residents: a man between 65 and 84 years old and a woman over 85 years old.
• A man from Washington County between 65 and 84 years old.
• Four residents of Weber County: A woman over 85; a man between 25 and 44 years old; and two men between 65 and 84 years old.
Active admissions increased Thursday, with 510 patients admitted, UDOH reported.
Utah’s intensive care units were 81.3% occupied until Thursday, but 85.4% of the ICU beds in the state’s largest “referral” hospitals were occupied.
The state processed 11,412 exams in the 24-hour period that ended at noon on Thursday. The positivity rate for tests in the last week is 24.4% – an indication, health experts say, that many people with the virus have not yet been tested.
UDOH reported 6,230 more vaccines distributed since Wednesday’s report – bringing the total number of residents who received the vaccines to 30,200. It is almost the same number as the previous two days combined and reflects the expansion of the vaccine to long-term care institutions and some early respondents.
Prior to the release of Thursday’s report, Cox warned Utahns that the state would see “a huge increase in cases”.
“Fortunately, we saw only a small increase related to Thanksgiving. But our fear is that people would be less cautious during Christmas. “
Twice in November, UDOH reported case counts greater than Thursday’s number; one reflected a flaw in the previous day’s data report, the other made up for the lack of a daily Thanksgiving report.
In its report, UDOH included a statement that said Thursday’s high case count was “a worrying reminder that we are still in this battle”.
The department urged people who traveled during the Christmas holiday or visited people outside their homes to “assume that you may have been exposed and please limit your interaction with others”.
These people should also be tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19, “even if they are mild,” the department said. People taking the test should stay home until they receive the results. Those with a negative test should still limit interactions with others for 10 days. Those with a positive test should isolate themselves at home for at least 10 days after the first sign of symptoms or the day they were tested, the department said.
Cox, who takes the oath as Utah’s 18th governor on Monday, also appealed to Utahns who were planning to celebrate until 2020: “If you are planning big gatherings to celebrate New Year’s Eve, reconsider.”
He noted that “the initial release of the vaccine in the state was slower than we planned, [but] the past few days have been very encouraging. ”He added that regional health departments have increased their vaccination capacity and long-term care facilities received their first doses this week.
“There are many reasons to have hope and optimism as we enter the new year, but we must remain vigilant,” concluded Cox.
UDOH will not report case counts on Friday, due to the New Year’s Day holiday. The first 2021 report will be issued on Saturday.