SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose Tuesday in 2015, with 15 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per seven-day day is 2,540. The positive daily test rate for this time period is now 23.2%. There are currently 553 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, according to state data.
The new figures indicate an increase of 0.8% in positive cases since Monday. Of the 1,589,855 people tested so far to detect COVID-19 in Utah, 14.9% tested positive for the disease.
Tuesday’s total gives Utah 237,787 confirmed cases, with 9,585 hospitalizations and 1,077 deaths from the disease.
The 15 deaths reported on Tuesday were:
- A Weber County woman who was between 45 and 64 years old and resided in a long-term care center
- An Iron County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Weber County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was over 85 years old and resided in a long-term care center
- A woman from Duchesne County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A woman from Weber County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A Utah County woman who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A Washington County man who was between 25 and 44 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between 25 and 44 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Davis County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and resided in a long-term care center
- A Utah County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A man from Washington County who was over 85 and was hospitalized when he died
Also Tuesday, several Utah health workers became the first in the state to receive the COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Tuesday. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is scheduled to talk about COVID-19 at his monthly press conference with PBS Utah at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Methodology:
Test results now include PCR test data and antigen testing. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after confirmation, but negative results may not be reported within 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported daily by the Utah Department of Health includes all cases of COVID-19 since the Utah outbreak began, including those that are currently infected, those that 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 who has not died.
The reference hospitals are the 16 hospitals in Utah with the capacity to provide the best COVID-19 health care.
According to the health department, deaths reported by the state usually occur two to seven days before their complaint. Some deaths may be even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed deaths and probable cases of COVID-19 as defined in the case reviewed by the Council of State and territorial epidemiologists. Death counts may change as case investigations are completed.
According to the health department, for deaths reported as deaths from COVID-19, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19.
The data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district website.
You can learn more about Utah health guidance levels 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 bottom of the page.
Jacob Klopfenstein
Lauren Bennett