SALT LAKE CITY – As a second coronavirus vaccine prepares to enter the mix in Utah, the state health department reported Sunday that it has confirmed 1,994 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths from the statewide disease .
The figures bring Utah to 250,964 confirmed total cases and 1,155 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
In an email, the health department said the Utahs who died include:
- A man from Iron County, aged between 65 and 84, who was hospitalized when he died
- A woman from Morgan County, aged between 65 and 84, who was hospitalized
- A woman from Salt Lake County, aged 65 to 84, who was hospitalized
- A 65-year-old man from Salt Lake County who was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A man from Sanpete County aged between 45 and 64, who was hospitalized
- A woman from Utah County, aged 65 to 84, who was hospitalized
- A man from Washington County, aged between 65 and 84, who was hospitalized
As of Sunday, the health department reports that it has administered 3,648 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine and that 23,400 doses have been shipped to Utah from the federal government. Vaccines require multiple doses.
Currently, 557 Utahns have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, of which 201 are in intensive care. The Department of Health says about 95 percent of the state’s total intensive care capacity is used, including 98.7 percent of its “referral center” beds in 16 hospitals in Utah with the best care for coronavirus patients.
Now just over 10,000 Utahns have been hospitalized in total due to COVID-19. They were divided almost exactly equally between men and women, their average age was 55 and 62% were considered “high risk” individuals.
In the last week, the state has an average of 2,442 new cases reported per day and a positive test percentage of 22.76. The new number of cases on Sunday came, while another 8,663 Utahns were tested.
State leaders are calling for continued caution as Utahns prepares to celebrate Christmas this week.
This week
- Saturday: Utah Department of Health reports 2,408 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths Saturday
- Friday: Another 2,644 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths reported on Friday; Utah is receiving fewer doses of vaccine than expected
- Thursday: Alcohol, school quarantine policies adjusted as Utah records 30 new COVID-19 deaths, 3,203 cases
- Wednesday: Another 2,928 COVID-19 cases, 19 deaths reported Wednesday in Utah
- Tuesday: 1,915 other COVID-19 cases, 15 deaths reported Tuesday in Utah
- months: Another 1,968 COVID-19 cases, 7 deaths reported Monday in Utah
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 COVID-19 cases since the onset of the Utah outbreak, including those currently infected, those recovering 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 State Council and Territorial Epidemiologists. 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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Graham Dudley