SALT LAKE CITY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah rose Wednesday in 2009, with seven more reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The Department of Health estimates there are 46,034 active cases of the disease in Utah. According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day seven days a day is 1,758. The positive daily test rate for this time period is now 18.4%.
There are currently 452 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, including 161 in intensive care, according to state data. About 84 percent of all intensive care beds in Utah had been occupied since Wednesday, including about 89 percent of the ICU beds at the state’s 16 reference hospitals, according to the health department. About 52% of non-ICU hospital beds are filled.
A total of 250,448 vaccines have been administered in the state, up from 237,637 on Tuesday. Of these, 37,335 are second doses of the vaccine, according to state data.
The new figures indicate an increase of 0.6% in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 1,989,106 people tested so far to detect COVID-19 in Utah, 17.1% tested positive for the disease. The number of total tests performed increased by 16,644 as of Wednesday, and 10,156 of these were tests from people who had not previously been tested for COVID-19, according to the health department.
The seven deaths reported on Wednesday include:
- A Grand County man who was over 85 and who was hospitalized when he died
- A man from Millard County who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A man from Tooele County who was over 85 and who was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was between 45 and 64 years old and was hospitalized when she died
- A Washington County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County man who was between 65 and 84 years old and resided in a long-term care center
Wednesday’s total gives Utah 340,684 confirmed cases, with 13,217 hospitalizations and 1,620 deaths from the disease. According to state data, a total of 293,030 cases of COVID-19 are estimated to be recovered in Utah.
There is no COVID-19 press conference scheduled for Wednesday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is scheduled to make an update on the pandemic at 11 a.m. 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 notification. 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 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