SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose Thursday by 2,892, with nine more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department estimates there are 54,541 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah as of Thursday. According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per seven-day day is 2,379. The positive daily test rate for this time period is now 24%.
Of the 1,677,510 people tested so far by COVID-19 in Utah, 15.5% tested positive for COVID-19. An additional 10,631 tests were conducted as of Thursday, according to state data.
There are currently 561 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, according to state data. Of these, 180 occupy intensive care beds statewide. About 88.4% of all state ICU beds are occupied as of Thursday, with 91.5% occupancy at Utah’s 16 referral hospitals. About 53% of non-ICU hospital beds are occupied in Utah as of Thursday.
The health department reported that as of Thursday, 14,822 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Utah. The Department of Health noted that the doses administered are the number of doses of vaccines that have been administered to people and that have been reported to the UDOH.
“There will be a lag between when vaccines are sent, administered to a person, and finally notified to the UDOH,” the statement said. “Once people in Utah begin receiving their second dose of vaccine, the UDOH will also report the total number of people vaccinated. The data is preliminary and the UDOH will report additional data as they become available.”
The nine deaths reported on Thursday were:
- Two men from Salt Lake County between the ages of 65 and 84
- A Salt Lake County man over 85 and hospitalized when he died
- A Davis County man between the ages of 45 and 64 and admitted to the hospital when he died
- A Utah County man in his 85s and a long-term caregiver
- Two women from Salt Lake County between the ages of 65 and 84 who were hospitalized when they died
- A Utah County woman between the ages of 22 and 55 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Weber County woman between the ages of 45 and 64 died hospitalized
Thursday’s total gives Utah 260,589 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, 10,406 people have been hospitalized and 1,204 people have died from the disease.
It is now estimated that a total of 204,844 cases of COVID-19 will be recovered in Utah, according to state data.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for this week. The health department will not update Utah COVID-19 statistics Friday in view of the Christmas holidays.
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 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 cases 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.
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