SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health said Saturday that there are 2,613 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 testing in the state and nine more Utahns have died from the disease.
This brings Utah to 303,723 confirmed cases and 1,390 deaths since the pandemic began.
The positive percentage of seven days of positive testing is 32.6%, according to the department, and the state averages 3,147 new cases a day during that time.
There are currently 535 Utahns reported hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 181 in intensive care, who contribute more than 90% to statewide ICU utilization.
The health department says 99,612 vaccine doses have now been administered statewide, more than 10,000 more than was reported Friday. Vaccines require two doses for maximum effectiveness.
In an email, the health department said the nine Utahns who died include:
- A 65- to 84-year-old Davis County man who was hospitalized when he died
- Two Salt Lake County men between the ages of 45 and 64 who were hospitalized when they died
- A Salt Lake County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man over 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man over 85 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Uintah County man over 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- Two Weber County men between the ages of 65 and 84 who were hospitalized when they died
Men now account for more than 62% of coronavirus-related deaths in Utah. Utahns over the age of 64 account for 8% of the total number of cases in the state, but 77% of their deaths, and more than 13% of Utahns over the age of 84 who tested positive for COVID-19 have died due to this fact.
There are no coronavirus press conferences scheduled for state leaders over the weekend, but new Gov. Spencer Cox led one on Friday from the state Capitol. Cox said teachers at Utah schools will receive access to the vaccine starting Monday and outlined a plan to speed up vaccine distribution, as well as a tentative schedule for the next phases of vaccine access. .
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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Graham Dudley