SALT LAKE CITY – According to Utah Department of Health officials, another 462 COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, with two more deaths.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day now stands at 951, according to the health department. According to the agency’s data, the average on Friday fell below 1,000 for the first time since Oct. 2.
There were 3,313 more Utahns tested and 6,644 more total tests reported Monday. The state’s seven-day mean ‘people over people’ positivity dropped to 14.1%, while the state’s ‘test over test’ rate fell to 6.4%.
Health department officials said a Weber County man and a Utah County man died as a result of the coronavirus. Both were between the ages of 65 and 84, and both were hospitalized at the time of their death.
State data shows that there are now 274 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations also continues to decline. The state referral center’s intensive care units had a 79% capacity and ICUs had a 75% capacity throughout Monday. Both figures are now below maximum usage and slightly above the state’s target of 77% for referral centers and 72% for statewide ICs.
While COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions continue to decline, the number of COVID-19 vaccinations is slowly rising – which is another positive sign. The state is reporting 1,033 more COVID-19 vaccinations as of Sunday’s update. In total, 525,033 Utahns have received the COVID-19 vaccine since December last year.
Monday’s totals give Utah a total of 361,756 confirmed cases as of March 2020, with 14,209 total hospitalizations and 1,796 total deaths from the disease.
No COVID-19 press conference is scheduled for Monday, as government offices are closed due to the holiday. The next briefing is scheduled for Thursday.
Health Department Announces More Free Rapid Tests
The state’s health department also announced locations and times Monday for more free rapid antigen testing in Utah in the coming week. The sites were selected based on higher regional positivity rates, low test sites, wastewater sampling, and other surveillance data.
There are a total of 13 test sites in 10 different counties across the state this week. The health department encourages anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to get tested, but residents can get tested even if they have no symptoms.
Anyone wishing to get tested is encouraged to register online before receiving a test. People can arrive at a testing site without registering, but they may have to wait longer. You can register for the rapid test this week here.
Box Elder County
- Bear River Middle School (300 E. 1500 in Garland): 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Cache County
- Ridgeline High School (180 N. 300 West in Millville): Friday and Saturday, noon to 7 pm.
- Hyrum Senior Center (695 E. Main in Hyrum): Monday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Tuesday, noon to 7:00 pm.
Duchesne County
- Duchesne Court of Appeal (21554 W. 9000 South in Duchesne): Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Grand County
- Southeast Utah Health Department (575 S. Kane Creek in Moab): Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, noon to 7:00 pm.
Juab County
- Juab School District Office (346 E. 600 North in Nephi): Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Salt Lake County
- Herriman High School (11917 S. Mustang Trail in Herriman): 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (12691 S. 3600 West in Riverton): 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Sevier County
- Central Utah Public Health Department (70 Westview Drive in Richfield): Wednesdays, 8am to 3pm, and Thursdays, noon to 7pm.
Summit County
- South Summit School District (285 E. 400 South in Kamas): Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Saturday, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Park City High School (1750 Kearns Ltd. in Park City): Monday and Tuesday, 12 noon to 7 pm.
Tooele County
- Wendover Fire Station (151 9th Street in Wendover): Monday and Tuesday, 12 noon to 6 pm.
Wasatch County
- Wasatch County Events Complex (415 Southfield Road in Heber City): Wednesdays, noon to 7pm.
Drive-thru testing is performed at many of the sites, while others are performed inside buildings. Masks and physical distance are encouraged for anyone waiting in line for a test.
The health department advises that since antigen testing is less sensitive than PCR testing, there is a potential for false negative results.
“If a person has symptoms and tests negative on the rapid antigen test or a person has no symptoms and tests positive on the rapid antigen test, they will be referred for a follow-up, confirmation PCR test,” the department wrote.
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 start of the Utah outbreak, including those currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who are passed away.
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 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. To learn more about 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.