SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose 1,716 on Monday, with five more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day for seven days is 1,969. The positive daily test rate for that time period is now 24.4%.
Also Monday, state officials announced that Utahns, aged 75 and over, could receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as mid-February as part of Phase 2 of the Utah vaccine distribution plan.
New COVID-19 cases
The state now estimates that there are 49,129 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The new figures indicate a 0.6% increase in positive cases on 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 have been tested for the disease since Monday and a total of 7,082 additional tests have been performed, state data show.
There are currently 498 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, according to the health department. Of these, 168 occupy beds in intensive care units statewide. About 79 percent of all ICU beds in the state have been filled since Monday, including about 83 percent of all ICU beds in Utah’s 16 referral hospitals, according to state data. About 43% of non-ICU hospital beds have been filled since Monday.
As of Monday, a total of 17,543 COVID-19 vaccines had been administered, compared with 16,992 doses given on Sunday.
The five deaths reported on Monday were:
- A woman in Salt Lake County who was over 85 years old and a resident of 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 Davis County woman between the ages of 45 and 64 living in a long-term care facility
- A man from Duchesne County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A woman in Washington County who was over 85 years old and a resident of a long-term care facility
Monday’s total provides Utah with 266,590 confirmed cases in total, with 10,643 total hospitalizations and 1,219 total deaths from the disease. A total of 216,242 cases of Utah COVID-19 are now estimated to be recovered, according to the health department.
Phase 2 plans for announced vaccines
The Utah Department of Health announced details Monday for phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to begin in February. The Utah COVID-19 Unified Command Group has adopted recommendations from the Department of Health for the second phase of vaccination under Governor Gary Herbert, according to a press release.
“We have seen older adults bear the brunt of the disease in our state and across the country,” said Rich Saunders, interim executive director of the health department. “These people are much more likely to be hospitalized, in need of intensive care and to undergo COVID-19. Ensuring these members of our community receive the vaccine as soon as possible will save lives and help reduce the burden on our hospitals. “
Phase 1 of the vaccine distribution plan began earlier this month. First-line health workers, residents and staff of long-term care institutions, as well as public and tribal health workers, are now vaccinated according to plan.
K-12 teachers and first responders will be the next groups to receive the vaccine, probably at the end of January, the press release said.
People over the age of 65 are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 effects. In Utah, 77% of all deaths from the disease so far have been in people aged 65 and over, the statement said.
“As we move to Phase 2 of our vaccination program, it simply makes the most sense to vaccinate those at the highest risk of hospitalization and death first,” Herbert said. “We will continue to refine our plans and move forward in accordance with the principle that those who suffer the most should be vaccinated first.”
Other groups that will receive the phase 2 vaccine have not been announced, according to the health department; however, Utahns will likely continue to be prioritized by age groups, the statement said.
Utahs with underlying medical conditions and living in certain “gathering conditions” can also be vaccinated in phase 2, the statement said. The Department of Health no longer considers employment status or type of employment when giving priority to vaccine groups.
Focusing on age will do more to reduce infections and alleviate hospitalizations than any other category of individuals as we continue to administer vaccinations, Governor-elect Spencer Cox said in a statement. “I am very supportive of this change and I know it will save lives.”
When phase 2 begins, people will receive the vaccine at mass vaccination clinics at local health departments. Later in phase 2, the vaccines will be distributed through local pharmacies and primary care providers, the statement said.
Additional details of Phase 2, such as how vaccine clinics will check the ages of vaccine seekers, are yet to be determined. More information about Utah vaccination plans is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Monday. Utah officials usually provide updates at press conferences once a week on Wednesday or Thursday.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after confirmation, but negative test results cannot be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported daily by the Utah Department of Health includes all cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the Utah outbreak, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and did not die.
The referral hospitals are the 16 hospitals in Utah with the capacity to provide the best COVID-19 healthcare.
State-reported deaths usually occurred two to seven days before they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may come from the back, especially if the person is from Utah but died in another state.
The Department of Health reports both confirmed and probable deaths in the COVID-19 case, as defined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiology. The number of deaths may change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
The data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit the local health district website.
More information on Utah health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
The information comes 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