Coronavirus cases in Utah continue to decline, but deaths are rising

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There has been an increase of over 20 deaths caused by COVID-19 in the last week.

(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Students line up for COVID-19 tests as they return to Highland High School in Salt Lake City on Monday, February 8, 2021.

| February 28, 2021, 6:41 p.m.

| Updated: 9:52 p.m.

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While the number of daily coronavirus infections continues its downward trajectory, there is a trend that is moving in the opposite direction.

Deaths from COVID-19 have increased. There were 83 new deaths in the last week, compared to only 59 in the previous week.

Past vaccinations / total vaccinations • 14,243 / 716,536.

As vaccinations continue to rise across the country, Utah announced this week that it will receive the new Johnson & Johnson licensed version on Wednesday. That vaccine requires a single dose and can be kept easier compared to the Pfizer and Moderna iterations, which require two doses.

“This is proof of modern research, science, public health and medicine. We are in a race to save as many lives as possible through vaccines, “Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Friday. “It simply came to our notice then. Remember, all three vaccines are safe and effective. You can be confident that any of them will protect you and those around COVID-19. ”

And with vaccinations already open to a larger number of underlying health conditions, the state will rely on the honor system and will not require Utahns to prove they are eligible. Cox recently acknowledged that people may lie that they have a underlying condition.

Number of Utahns who received two doses • 254,569.

Cases reported the other day • 465.

Week by week cases continue to decline. In the last seven days, the total number of new cases was 4,500. It amounted to 5,441 a week earlier. In the last week there were no days when the daily number reached over 900.

Deaths reported last day • Six to four men, two women.

Three of the men were from Summit County, Salt Lake County and Tooele County, respectively, and were all between the ages of 45 and 64; the fourth man was from Utah County and was over 85 years old.

Both women were between 65 and 84 years old. One was from Weber County, and the other was from Salt Lake County.

Hospitalizations reported last day • 203. It dropped 20 on Saturday. Of those currently hospitalized, 84 are in intensive care units – five fewer than on Saturday.

Tests reported the other day • 4,365 people were tested for the first time. A total of 8,422 people were tested.

Percentage of positive tests • According to the initial state method, the rate is 10.7%. This is lower than the seven-day average of 11.6%.

The new Utah method counts all test results, including repeated tests of the same individual. The rate on Sunday is now 5.5%, slightly higher than the seven-day average of 5.2%.

[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]

Totals so far • 371,235 cases; 1,935 deaths; 14,695 hospitalizations; 2,205,791 people tested.

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