SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose 2,644 on Friday, with 14 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The state now estimates that there are approximately 56,576 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day for seven days is now 2,494. The positive daily test rate for that time period is now 22.1%. There are now 539 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data show.
The new figures indicate a 1.1% increase in positive cases on Thursday. Of the 1,623,795 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 15.3% tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 10,547 new people have been tested for COVID-19 since Friday, out of another 15,970 tests performed, state data show.
There are now 539 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data show. Of these, 206 occupy beds in intensive care units. About 95 percent of ICU beds have been occupied in Utah since Friday, including about 99 percent of ICU beds in the state’s 16 reference hospitals. About 57 percent of non-ICU hospital beds are filled on Friday, state data show.
Health Department data now show that 1,347 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Utah so far, especially in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Washington counties.
A total of 14,625 doses of vaccine have been shipped to Utah so far. The Utah Department of Health said Friday it learned it will receive fewer doses of Pfizer vaccine next week than planned with 16,575 doses instead of 23,400. The health department said it is working to find out why.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that the government said there was confusion between states between the number of planning and training and the actual allocations, which are provided only in the week before the shipment. Pfizer said it had no production problems and that vaccine deliveries were not shipped or delayed.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney announced Friday that he will receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The doctor’s office has now informed all senators that, for the continuity of government purposes, we are to receive the vaccination and that there is no reason to be late,” Senator Romney said in a statement. “In accordance with this directive, I will receive the vaccine. I will also wear a mask, practice social distance and avoid large meetings, in accordance with public health guidelines.
“Our most urgent task is to get COVID emergency aid over the finish line,” Romney continued. “I am looking to the Congress leadership to finalize the bill, hopefully in a way that is consistent with much of the bipartisan proposal I presented earlier this week.”
The senator received his vaccine around 15:50, posting a picture on Twitter.
Grateful for the hard work of the medical community, governor. partners and others who work non-stop to provide safety and efficiency # COVID-19 vaccine. It is time for Congress to do its job and complete what our bipartisan group began by urgently passing COVID aid. pic.twitter.com/Zje73g5oRX
– Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 18, 2020
Utah’s total Friday offers 246,562 confirmed cases, with 9,883 hospitalizations in total and 1,140 deaths in total due to the disease. A total of 188,846 cases of Utah COVID-19 are now estimated to be recovered, state data show.
The 14 deaths reported on Friday were:
- A man from Carbon County who was between 65 and 84 years old, with an unknown hospitalization status
- A woman from Davis County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A man from Emery County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was not hospitalized when he died
- A woman from Salt Lake County who was between 65 and 84 years old and a resident of a long-term care institution
- Two men from Salt Lake County who were between 65 and 84 years old and were hospitalized when they died
- A woman from Salt Lake County, who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A woman from Salt Lake County who was over 85 years old and was not hospitalized when she died
- A man from Sanpete County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah woman who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A man from Washington County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A man from Weber County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Weber County woman over the age of 85 who lived in a long-term care facility
- A woman from Weber County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was not hospitalized when she died
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Friday. Utah officials gave updates at press conferences on 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