Coronavirus cases in Utah continue to decline, but deaths are on the rise

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Last week, there was an increase of more than 20 deaths due to COVID-19.

(Trent Nelson | Tribune Archive Photo) Students line up to take COVID-19 tests when they return to Salt Lake City Highland High School on Monday, February 8, 2021.

| February 28, 2021, 6:41 p.m.

| Update: 21:52 h

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While the number of daily coronavirus infections continues its downward trajectory, there is a trend moving in the opposite direction.

Deaths from COVID-19 have increased. There were 83 new deaths over the past week compared to just 59 the previous week.

Vaccines administered during the past day / total vaccinations • 14,243 / 716,536.

As vaccines continue to rise nationwide, Utah announced this week that it will receive the newly licensed version of Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday. This particular vaccine only requires one dose and can be stored more easily compared to the Pfizer and Modern iterations, which require two doses.

“This is a testament to modern research, science, public health and medicine. We are in a race to save as many lives as possible through vaccines, “Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement Friday.” This vaccine will do that. Remember, all three vaccines are safe and effective. You can have trust that any of them will protect you and those around you from the COVID-19 “.

And with vaccines already open to a larger number of people with underlying health conditions, the state will rely on the honor system and will not require Utahns to prove they are eligible. Cox recently acknowledged that it is possible for people to lie about having an underlying condition.

Number of Utahns who have received two doses • 254,569.

Cases reported last day • 465.

Week after week cases continue to fall. Over the past seven days, the total number of new cases was 4,500. It stood at 5,441 a week earlier. Last week there were no days when the daily figure reached over 900.

Deaths reported last day • Six – four men, two women.

Three of the men were from Summit County, Salt Lake County, and Tooele County, respectively, and were all between 45 and 64 years old; the fourth man was from Utah County and was over 85 years old.

The two women were between 65 and 84 years old. One was from Weber County and the other from Salt Lake County.

Hospitalizations reported last day • 203. It has gone down 20 Saturday. Of those currently hospitalized, 84 are in intensive care units, five fewer than on Saturday.

Tests reported last day • 4,365 people were tested for the first time. A total of 8,422 people were tested.

Percentage of positive tests • According to the original method of the state, the rate is 10.7%. This is below the seven-day average of 11.6%.

The new Utah method counts all test results, including repeated testing by the same individual. Sunday’s rate now stands at 5.5%, slightly above the seven-day average of 5.2%.

[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]

Total so far • 371,235 cases; 1,935 dead; 14,695 hospitalizations; 2,205,791 people tested.

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