SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah jumped 2,736 on Tuesday, with 16 more deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department now estimates that there are 49,569 active cases of the disease in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now 2,035, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that period is now 24.7%.
The new numbers indicate a 1% increase in positive cases since Monday. Of the 1,705,452 people who have been tested for COVID-19 in Utah to date, 15.9% have tested positive for COVID-19. The health department reported that 7,347 new people were tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday and a total of 13,954 tests were conducted, state data shows.
There are now 506 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data shows. Of those, 164 are in intensive care beds statewide. About 80% of all IC beds have been occupied in Utah as of Tuesday, including about 82% of the IC beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals. About 46% of non-IC hospital beds are occupied, according to state data.
According to state data, a total of 20,417 COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered, up from 17,543 on Monday. Health officials note that there is a delay in data reporting of up to seven days from when vaccine doses are shipped to Utah, administered to patients, and reported to the state health agency. According to the health department, a total of 102,025 vaccine doses have now been shipped to Utah.
The 16 deaths reported Tuesday were:
- A Weber County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and lived in a long-term care facility
- A Utah County man over the age of 85 living in a long-term care facility
- A Box Elder County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- A man from Uintah County who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 25 and 44 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- Three men from Salt Lake County, ages 65 to 84, were hospitalized when they died
- A man from Cache County who was over 85 and was hospitalized when he died
- A woman in Utah County who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Davis County man over 85 and living in a long-term care facility
- A Washington County man between the ages of 45 and 64 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- A man from Kane County who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
Tuesday’s totals give Utah a total of 269,326 confirmed cases, with 10,763 total hospitalizations and 1,235 total deaths from the disease. According to the health department, an estimated 218,522 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered.
There is no press conference on COVID-19 scheduled for this week.
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 outlined 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 about Utah’s 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.
Jacob Klopfenstein