The state is reporting another 23 fatalities as the number of fully vaccinated people approaches 340,000.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People will drive to the Davis County Legacy Center in Farmington on Monday, March 8, 2021 for appointments to be vaccinated against COVID-19. on the first day that people 50 and older are officially eligible for their first dose.
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Nearly a year after the first Utahn died of COVID-19, the state passed a total of 2,000 deaths.
The Utah Department of Health reported 23 additional fatalities on Thursday, bringing the total to 2,015. Fifteen of the last 23 reported deaths occurred before February 11, and additional testing was confirmed to be related to COVID-19.
The state’s first recorded death from the coronavirus was announced on March 22, 2020.
All but two of the 23 deaths reported Thursday were 65 years of age or older and 14 were 85 years of age or older.
The state also reported that more than 34,000 people had been vaccinated on Wednesday as the number of fully vaccinated people – either with both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the one-time Johnson & Johnson vaccine – approached 340,000.
Vaccine Doses Administered Over the Last Day / Total Doses Administered 34,290 / 936,681.
Utahns fully vaccinated • 339,743.
Cases reported in the past day • 646
Deaths reported in the past day • 23.
Salt Lake County reported eight deaths – two women between the ages of 65 and 84, and three men and three women over 85.
There were four deaths in Davis County: a man aged 45 to 64, a man aged 65 to 84, and two women aged 85 and older.
Washington County reported three deaths: a man aged 45 to 64 and a man and woman aged 65 to 84.
Two Utah County residents died – a man aged 65 to 84 and a man aged 85 and older.
Six counties each reported a single death – a woman 85 and older in Box Elder County; a woman aged 85 and older in Cache County; a woman aged 65 to 84 in Iron County; a man aged 85 and older in Kane County; a man aged 85 and older in Uintah County; and a woman 85 and older in Weber County.
Hospital admissions reported in the past day • 167. That’s down eight starting Wednesday. Of those currently hospitalized, 66 are in intensive care units – seven fewer than Wednesday.
Tests reported in the past day • 8,139 people were tested for the first time. A total of 18,923 people were tested.
Percentage of positive tests • According to the state’s original method, the rate is 7.93%. That is lower than the seven-day average of 8.44%.
The new method counts all test results, including repeated tests from the same person. Thursday’s rate is now at 3.41%, lower than the seven-day average of 4.03%.
[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]
Totals so far • 376,973 cases; 2015 dead; 15,014 hospital admissions; 2,273,483 people tested.
This story is under development and will be updated.