SALT LAKE CITY – According to the Utah Department of Health, COVID-19 cases in Utah rose by 2,160 on Monday, with another four dead.
The health department now estimates that there are 50,030 active COVID-19 cases in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now 2,716, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that period climbed to a record high of 30.8% – the first time that number was reported above 30%.
The new numbers indicate an increase of 0.8% in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 1,752,324 people tested for COVID-19 so far in Utah, 16.4% tested positive for COVID-19. The health department reported 6,619 new people being tested as of Monday, while the total number of tests performed increased by 8,770.
According to the health department, a total of 48,575 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in Utah, up from 47,382 on Sunday. Health officials note that there is a data reporting delay from when doses are shipped to Utah, administered to patients, and then reported to the health department. State records show that 142,875 doses of vaccine have now been shipped to Utah.
There are currently 484 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, including 167 in intensive care. Overall, about 83% of all intensive care beds in Utah are occupied on Mondays, including about 86% of the intensive care beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals. About 48% of non-ICU hospital beds in Utah are filled, state data shows.
The four new deaths reported Monday were:
- A Washington County woman over the age of 85 living in a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County man over the age of 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County woman over the age of 85 who was hospitalized when she died
Monday’s totals give Utah 285,633 total confirmed cases, with 11,240 total hospitalizations and 1,305 total deaths from the disease. According to the health department, a total of 234,298 COVID-19 cases are now being recovered.
As the average positive test rate in Utah has continued to rise, the health department is offering free rapid COVID-19 tests throughout Utah this week, according to a news release from the department. Anyone can get tested at the clinics, even if they have no symptoms of COVID-19. The aim of the clinics is to more easily identify cases of COVID-19 in the community, including people who may not know they are infected because they have no symptoms.
People are encouraged to pre-register online for testing on the sites. People will also be able to personally register with the clinics, but identification may be required. The full list of sites can be found by clicking this link.
There is no press conference on COVID-19 on the program on Monday. Utah officials typically provide updates at news conferences once a week on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
This story is being updated.
Methodology:
The test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results will be reported to the health department immediately upon confirmation, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since the Utah outbreak began, including those 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 has not died.
Referral hospitals are the 16 hospitals in Utah that can provide the best COVID-19 healthcare.
Deaths reported by the state usually occurred two to seven days before reporting, according to the health department. Some deaths can be even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 according to the case definition set forth by the Council of State and territorial epidemiologists. Death rates are subject to change as the investigation of the case is completed.
For deaths reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they had not had COVID-19, according to the health department.
The data in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. Visit your local health district website for more localized information.
More information on Utah health guidelines is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health collects 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