SALT LAKE CITY – The first day without a state mask warrant since November, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose by 407, with two more deaths and 32,887 vaccinations recorded Saturday, according to the Department of Health. Utah.
According to the health department, the average number of positive cases per day seven days a day is 396. The positive test rate per day for this time period calculated using the “people on people” method is now 7% . The positive test rate per day for this time period calculated with the “test over test” method is now 3.4%.
There are now 143 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 53 in intensive care, according to state data. About 68 percent of Utah’s intensive care beds are occupied as of Saturday, including about 70 percent of ICU beds in the state’s 16 reference hospitals, according to state data. About 54% of non-ICU hospital beds are occupied in Utah.
A total of 1,683,737 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, up from 1,650,850 on Friday. A total of 1,089,914 Utahns have now received at least one dose of vaccine, while 668,371 are fully vaccinated.
The two deaths reported on Saturday were:
- A Salt Lake County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 who resided in a long-term care center
- A 65- to 84-year-old Utah County man who died in a hospital
As of Saturday, no masks will be required in most environments, according to Utah House Bill 294. Masks will be needed in some places, including K-12 schools, in meetings of 50 or more people, in private companies that still require them. and government properties, such as Utah National Parks. Grand County and Salt Lake City have also opted to keep mask warrants in place.
The Utah Jazz will continue to need masks in games. Utah ski resorts also require masks until the end of their respective season.
Health officials urged people to continue wearing masks after the warrant was lifted.
“Until more people have the opportunity to get vaccinated, we urge people to continue wearing masks in and around public places that have not been vaccinated,” health department executive director Richard Saunders said Friday. “We’ve come this far and we’re so close to getting back to normal. We ask for your patience and cooperation for a while longer.”