SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s COVID-19 death toll rose 2,160 on Monday, with four more dead, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The Department of Health now estimates that there are 50,030 active COVID-19 cases in Utah. According to the health department, the current average number of positive cases of seven days a day is now at 2,716. The positive test rate per day for that period has climbed to a record high of 30.8% – the first time the number has exceeded 30 % has been reported.
The new numbers point to a 0.8% increase in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 1,752,324 people tested so far for COVID-19 in Utah, 16.4% tested positive for COVID-19. The health department tested from 6,619 new people, while the total number of tests increased by 8,770.
A total of 48,575 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in Utah, according to the Department of Health, compared to 47,382 Sunday. Health officials note that there is a delay in the data of when doses are sent to Utah, administered to patients and then reported to the health department. Data from the state show that 142,875 vaccine doses have now been sent to Utah.
There are currently 484 COVID-19 patients admitted to Utah, including 167 in intensive care. Overall, about 83% of all intensive care unit beds in Utah were occupied Monday, including about 86% of ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals. About 48% of the non-ICU hospital beds in Utah are filled, state data shows.
The four new deaths reported on Monday were:
- A Washington County woman who was over 85 and a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County man over the age of 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County woman over the age of 85 who was hospitalized when she died
The total Monday’s total cases give Utah 285,633 confirmed cases, with 11,240 hospitalizations and 1,305 total deaths due to the disease. A total of 234,298 COVID-19 cases are now estimated to be recovered, according to the Department of Health.
As Utah’s positive test rate continues to rise, the Department of Health is offering free fast COVID-19 tests in Utah this week, according to a news release from the department. Anyone can be tested at the clinics, even if they have no symptoms of COVID-19. The goal of the clinics is to more easily identify cases of COVID-19 in the community, including people who may not know they are infected because they have no symptoms.
People are encouraged to pre-register online for testing on the sites. People will also be able to register in person at the clinics, but identification may be required. The complete list of sites can be found by clicking on this link.
Health officials also warned on Monday that a fake leaflet was being circulated asking people to wear a certain type of mask to indicate their vaccination status. The information on the flyer is not true and the state of Utah will never ask people to wear a certain type or color mask to prove they have been vaccinated, the Department of Health said in a statement. series of tweets Monday.
The health department also pointed out that there are no restrictions depending on whether someone wants to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Utahns’ ability to travel, enter businesses and vote is also unrelated to anyone’s vaccine status.
“False and misleading information like this is harmful and dangerous in our fight against the pandemic,” the health department said.
There is no COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Monday. Utah officials typically present at news conferences on Wednesdays or Thursdays once a week.
Methods:
Test results now contain data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after confirmation, but negative test results may not be reported 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported each day by the Utah Department of Health includes all cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak of Utah, including those currently infected, those recovering 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 did not die.
Reference hospitals are the 16 Utah hospitals that can provide the best COVID-19 health care.
According to the Department of Health, deaths usually occurred two to seven days before they were reported. Some deaths can come back even further, especially if the person is from Utah but died in another state.
According to the Department of Health, as well as likely COVID-19 deaths are confirmed as defined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death rates could change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they had not had COVID-19, according to the Department of Health.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. Visit the website of your local health district for more localized data.
More information on Utah’s health education levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
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 browse to the “Data Notes” section at the bottom of the page.
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Jacob Klopfenstein