SALT LAKE CITY – Another 462 COVID-19 cases were reported Monday with two more deaths, according to Utah Department of Health officials.
According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day seven days a day is 951. The average fell below 1,000 on Friday for the first time since Oct. 2, according to agency data.
There were 3,313 most tested Utahns and 6,644 most reported total tests on Monday. The state’s seven-day average positivity of people on people fell to 14.1%, while the state’s “test on 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 65 and 84 years old and both were hospitalized at the time of his death.
State data show that there are now 274 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations also continues to decline. Intensive care units at the state’s referral center were at 79% capacity and ICUs had 75% statewide capacity on Monday. Both figures are now below maximum utilization and slightly above the state target, 77% for referral centers and 72% for statewide ICUs.
Although COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline, the number of COVID-19 vaccines is slowly increasing, which is another positive sign. The state reports 1,033 more vaccines against COVID-19 since its update Sunday. A total of 525,033 Utahns have received the COVID-19 vaccine since last December.
Monday’s totals give Utah 361,756 confirmed cases in total since March 2020, with 14,209 total hospitalizations and 1,796 deaths from the disease.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Monday, as government offices are closed for holidays. The next briefing is scheduled for 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 that are 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.