SALT LAKE CITY – The gradual decline in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah continued Sunday as the state health department reported 1,194 new cases, as well as two additional deaths from the disease.
The department also says 10,176 more Utahns have been vaccinated against coronavirus, for a total of 310,692 doses administered now. More than 63,000 Utahns have now received a second dose of vaccine, needed for maximum effectiveness.
Currently, 413 Utahns are hospitalized due to coronavirus, including 131 in intensive care. This has reduced the capacity of ICUs across the state to just below 85%, the point at which hospitals consider ICUs to be “functionally full”.
Over the past week, the state recorded an average of 1,464 new cases per day and a positive evidence rate of 16.9%.
The new figures come as 12,862 more test results were recorded as of Saturday, including the 6,472 Utahns tests that had not been tested before.
Overall, Sunday’s update brings the state to 346,624 confirmed cases; 1,665 dead; 3,339,677 total tests performed on 2,024,647 different people; and 13,468 related hospitalizations.
The two deaths reported were from an Iron County woman over the age of 85 who was hospitalized when she died; and a 45- to 64-year-old Weber County man who was not hospitalized.
There is no COVID-19 press conference for state officials scheduled for the weekend. Gov. Spencer Cox and health officials will brief the public on the state’s pandemic response later this week; the conference usually takes place on Thursdays.
Last week
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.
Graham Dudley