SALT LAKE CITY – Another 462 COVID-19 cases were reported with two more deaths on Monday, according to Utah Department of Health officials.
According to the Department of Health, the average number of positive cases of seven days a day is now at 951. According to the agency’s data, the average Friday fell below 1,000 for the first time since October 2.
3,333 more Utahns were tested and 6,644 more total tests were reported Monday. The state’s seven – day moving average “people over people” positivity dropped to 14.1%, while the state’s “test over test” rate dropped to 6.4%.
Health department officials said a Weber County man and a Utah County man died from the coronavirus. Both were between 65 and 84 years old, and both were hospitalized at the time of their deaths.
State data shows that there are currently 274 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continues to decline. The state’s intensive care units for referral centers were up 79% and the ICUs had 75% on Monday. Both figures are now below the maximum used and slightly above the state target of 77% for referral centers and 72% for ICUs across the country.
While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline, the number of COVID-19 vaccinations is rising slowly – which is another positive sign. The state reports 1,033 more COVID-19 vaccinations from its Sunday update. A total of 525,033 Utahns have now received the COVID-19 vaccine since last December.
The total Monday’s total number of cases has been confirmed in Utah 361,756 since March 2020, with 14,209 total hospitalizations and 1,796 total deaths due to the disease.
There is no COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Monday as government offices are closed for the holidays. The next briefing is scheduled for Thursday.
The Department of Health announces more free quick tests
The state health department also announced location sites and times on Monday for more free rapid antigen testing next week in Utah. The sites were selected based on higher local positivity rates, low test areas, wastewater samples and other monitoring data.
This week there are a total of 13 test venues in 10 different provinces across the country. The Department of Health encourages anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to be tested, but residents can be tested even if they do not have symptoms.
Everyone who wants to test is encouraged to register online before receiving a test. People can arrive at a test site without registering, but they may have to wait longer. Registration for this week’s quick test can be found here.
Box Elder County
- Bear River Middle School (300 E. 1500 in Garland): Wednesday and Thursday 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Cache County
- Ridgeline High School (180 N. 300 West in Millville): Afternoon to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Senior Center Hyrum (695 E. Main in Hyrum): Monday from 08:00 to 15:00 and Tuesday from 19:00 to 19:00.
Duchesne county
- Duchesne Justice Court (21554 W. 9000 South in Duchesne): Thursday 07:30 to 14:00.
Grand county
- Health Department in Southeast Utah (575 S. Kane Creek in Moab): Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday until 7 p.m.
Juab County
- Juab School District Office (346 E. 600 North in Nephi): 08:00 to 15:00 Monday and Tuesday.
Salt lake county
- Herriman High School (11917 S. Mustang Trail in Herriman): Wednesday and Thursday 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (12691 S. 3600 West in Riverton): Noon to 7 p.m.
Sevier county
- Central Utah Department of Public Health (Westview Drive 70 in Richfield): Wednesday 08:00 to 15:00 and Thursday 12:00 to 19:00.
Summit County
- South Summit School District (285 E. 400 South in Kamas): Friday 8: 00-15: 00 and Saturday 12:00 to 19:00.
- Park City High School (1750 Kearns Bvld. In Park City): Monday through 7 p.m., Monday and Tuesday.
Tooele County
- Wendover Fire Station (151 9th Street in Wendover): Monday to 6pm Monday and Tuesday.
Wasatch county
- Wasatch County Events Complex (415 Southfield Road in Heber City): Wednesday afternoon until 7 p.m.
Many of the sites will conduct door tests, while others will be conducted inside buildings. Masks and physical distance are encouraged for anyone waiting in line for a test.
The health department indicates that antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR testing, that the possibility of false negative results exists.
“If an individual has symptoms and is negative on the rapid antigen test or if someone has no symptoms and is positive on the rapid antigen test, it will be referred for a follow-up PCR test for confirmation,” the department written.
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.