SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose by 3,318 on Tuesday, with seven more deaths reported as the positive test rate continued to rise, according to the Utah Department of Health.
There are now an estimated 51,443 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah, according to state data. According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day seven days a day is 2,800. The percentage of positive tests per day for this time period is now a record high of 32.1%, up from 30.8% on Monday.
The new figures indicate an increase of 1.2% in positive cases since Monday. Of the 1,762,178 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah to date, 16.5% tested positive for COVID-19. The number of tests performed increased by 17,539 on Tuesday, and 9,854 of those tests were people who had not been tested for the disease, according to state data.
There are currently 510 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 177 in intensive care, according to data from the health department. Approximately 84% of the beds in intensive care units are filled in Utah as of Tuesday, including about 84% of the ICU beds in the state’s 16 reference hospitals.
A total of 55,981 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in Utah, according to the health department. A total of 150,125 vaccine doses have now been sent to the state, although health officials point out that there is a delay in data between the time the doses are sent, administered to patients and reports to the health department.
The seven deaths reported on Tuesday were:
- A Weber County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A man from Washington County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- Two women from Washington County who were over 85 and were not hospitalized when they died
- A Davis County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
Tuesday’s totals give Utah 288,951 confirmed cases in total, with 11,356 hospitalizations in total and 1,312 deaths from the disease. According to the health department, an estimated 236,196 cases of COVID-19 in Utah are recovering.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Tuesday. Utah officials usually provide updates at press conferences once a week on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
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.
Jacob Klopfenstein