SALT LAKE CITY – On the first day without a state-wide mask mandate since November, the state’s COVID-19 cases increased by 407, with two more deaths and 32,887 vaccinations, according to the Utah Department of Health.
According to the Department of Health, the current average number of positive cases per day of seven days is now 396. The positive test rate per day for the period calculated using the “people over people” method is now 7%. The positive test rate per day for that period calculated using the “test over test” method is now 3.4%.
There are now 143 COVID-19 patients currently being admitted to Utah, including 53 in intensive care, state data show. About 68% of the beds for intensive care units in Utah have been occupied since Saturday, including about 70% of the ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals, according to state data. About 54% of the non-ICU hospital beds are inhabited in Utah.
A total of 1,683,737 doses of vaccine were administered in the state, compared to 1,650,850. A total of 1,089,914 Utahns have now received at least one vaccine dose, while 668,371 have now been fully vaccinated.
The two deaths reported on Saturday were:
- A Salt Lake County woman between the ages of 65-84 who was a long-term care resident
- A Utah County man between the ages of 65-84 who died in a hospital
As of Saturday, masks are not needed in most institutions, according to Utah House Bill 294. In some places, including K-12 schools, masks are still needed at gatherings of 50 or more people, at private businesses that still need them. . and government property, such as the national parks in Utah. Grand County and Salt Lake City also chose to keep mask mandates in place.
The Utah Jazz will still need masks during games. Utah’s ski resorts also need masks until the end of their respective seasons.
Health officials urged people to continue wearing masks after the mandate was lifted.
“Until more people get the chance to be vaccinated, we call on people to continue wearing masks in public places and around those who have not yet been vaccinated,” said Richard Saunders, executive director of the department. of health, said in a news release Friday. “We have come this far and are so close to returning to normal. We ask for your patience and cooperation for a while.”