SALT LAKE CITY – After taking off on New Year’s Day, the Utah Department of Health’s first report, in 2021, shows 5,042 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 25 new deaths in the state.
The department says 3,110 of those cases and nine of the deaths were reported on Friday.
With the update, Utah has now seen a total of 281,654 confirmed cases and 1,294 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The health department says 14,900 more Utahns were tested on Thursday’s figures and a total of 1,740,903 Utahns have now been tested.
There are currently 487 Utahs hospitalized because of the coronavirus, including 152 in intensive care and 11,101 total hospitalizations since the pandemic hit Utah last year.
Over the past week, the state has averaged 2,506 new cases a day and a positive evidence rate of 27.4%.
Amid concerns about the speed of deployment of the two coronavirus-approved vaccines, Utah reported Saturday that 46,374 vaccine doses have been administered so far. This exceeds more than 16,000 doses compared to the amount reported on New Year’s Eve; both the Pfizer and the Modern vaccine require multiple doses.
There is no coronavirus press conference scheduled by state leaders for the weekend. Gov. Gary Herbert, who chaired most of the press conferences in 2020, is stepping down and on Monday will be formally replaced by elected governor Spencer Cox.
We will report 46,374 vaccines administered. Remember that “Doses administered” is the number of vaccine doses that have been administered to individuals and have been reported to the UDOH. There will be a lag between when vaccines are shipped, administered to a person, and finally informed.
– Utah Department of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) January 2, 2021
The 25 deaths reported in the past two days include six Salt Lake County residents:
- Two men between the ages of 65 and 84 living in a long-term care center
- Two women between the ages of 65 and 84 were hospitalized when they died
- A man between 65 and 84 years old hospitalized
- A woman over 85 hospitalized
They also include six Davis County residents:
- A man between 65 and 84 years old hospitalized
- A woman between the ages of 25 and 44 who was not hospitalized
- Three men over the age of 85 living in a long-term care center
- A woman between the ages of 65 and 84 who resided in a long-term care center
The counties of Washington, San Juan, Utah and Uintah also suffered several deaths, with others spread throughout the state:
- A Washington County woman over 85 who resided in a long-term care center
- A 45- to 64-year-old Washington County man who was hospitalized
- A Washington County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized
- A Utah County woman over the age of 85 who was a resident of a long-term care center
- A Utah County man over the age of 85 who resided in a long-term care center
- A Uintah County woman over the age of 85 who was not hospitalized
- A Uintah County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized
- A San Juan County woman between the ages of 25 and 44 who was hospitalized
- A 25- to 44-year-old San Juan County man who was hospitalized
- A Box Elder County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 was hospitalized
- A 45- to 64-year-old Weber County woman who was not hospitalized
- A Duchesne County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized
- A Sanpete County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 was hospitalized
A first email from the Utah Department of Health incorrectly indicated the total number of coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the state; corrected this number in a follow-up email.
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