SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health reported 1,585 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 testing in the state on Sunday, along with eight new deaths reported.
This brings Utah to 323,837 confirmed cases in total and 1,493 deaths since the pandemic began.
Currently, the health department says 557 Utahns are hospitalized because of COVID-19, including 226 in intensive care. The health department site says Utah ICU referral beds are more than 100% full, with a total of 458 patients treated, although there are 453 beds available.
Sunday’s figures come as the state conducted 14,727 more tests, 7,199 of which were for people who had not been tested before.
Over the past week, the state has averaged 2,209 new cases a day and a positive evidence rate of 22.6%. The health department says a total of 157,170 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have now been administered in Utah, an increase of 4,661 doses from the previous day.
About 15,000 Utahns have received their second dose of vaccine; both the Pfizer and the Modern vaccine require two doses for maximum effectiveness. The state began vaccinating health workers and has now moved in to teachers and residents over the age of 70.
There is no coronavirus press conference scheduled by state leaders over the weekend. Governor Spencer Cox and health officials are expected to hold a conference later this week; it usually happens on Thursdays.
Among the Utahns who reported his death on Sunday were seven men who all died hospitalized:
- A Carbon County man between 65 and 84 years old
- A man from Millard County between the ages of 65 and 84
- Two Utah County men between the ages of 45 and 64
- A Utah County man between the ages of 65 and 84
- A Washington County man between 65 and 84 years old
- A Washington County man over 85 years old
Also included was an Iron County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 who lived in a long-term care center.
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