SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s COVID-19 cases increased by 1,716 on Monday, with five more reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.
According to the Department of Health, this now averages 1,969 positive cases per day on seven days. The positive test rate per day for that period is now 24.4%.
Also on Monday, government officials announced that Utahns aged 75 and older may receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as mid-February under Phase 2 of Utah’s plan to distribute the vaccine.
New COVID-19 cases
The state now estimates that there are 49,129 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The new numbers point to a 0.6% increase in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 1,698,105 people tested so far for COVID-19 in Utah, 15.7% tested positive for COVID-19. An additional 4,976 new people were tested for the disease as of Monday, and a total of 7,082 tests were done, according to state data.
According to the Department of Health, there are currently 498 COVID-19 patients in Utah. Of these, 168 beds are in the intensive care unit throughout the state. About 79% of all ICU beds in the state were filled as of Monday, including 83% of all ICU beds in the 16 referral hospitals in Utah, according to state data. About 43% of the non-ICU hospital beds were filled as of Monday.
As of Monday, a total of 17,543 COVID-19 vaccines had been administered, compared to 16,992 doses administered on Sunday.
The five deaths reported on Monday were:
- A Salt Lake County woman who was over 85 and a resident of a long-term care facility
- A woman in Utah County who was between 45 and 64 years old and was admitted to the hospital when she died
- A Davis County woman between the ages of 45 and 64 and a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Duchesne County man aged between 65 and 84 was admitted to hospital when he died
- A Washington County woman who was over 85 and a resident of a long-term care facility
Monday’s total gives Utah 266,590 confirmed cases, with 10,643 total hospitalizations and 1,219 deaths due to the disease. A total of 216,242 cases in Utah COVID-19 are estimated to be recovered now, according to the Department of Health.
Vaccine Phase 2 plans announced
The Utah Department of Health on Monday released details for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine administration, which is expected to begin in February. According to a news release, the COVID-19 Unified Command Group in Utah has accepted the Department of Health’s recommendations for the second vaccination phase.
“We have seen older adults carry the worst disease burden in our country and across the country,” said Rich Saunders, interim executive director of the health department, in the release. “These individuals are much more likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care and die from COVID-19. If we ensure that these members of our community receive the vaccine as early as possible, it will save lives and reduce the burden on our hospitals. “
Phase 1 of the vaccine distribution plan began earlier this month. Frontline health care workers, residents and staff for long-term care facilities, as well as public and tribal health care workers, are now being vaccinated under the plan.
K-12 teachers and first responders are the next groups to receive the vaccine, likely in late January, the news release said.
People over 65 have much more serious consequences from COVID-19. In Utah, 77% of all deaths due to the disease so far have been among people 65 and older, the release said.
“As we move into phase 2 of our vaccination program, it simply makes the most sense to first vaccinate those who are most at risk for hospitalization and death,” Herbert said. “We will continue to refine our plans, and to continue on the principle that those who suffer the most must be vaccinated first.”
According to the health department, other groups receiving the vaccine in phase 2 have not been announced; However, Utahns is likely to be further prioritized by age groups, the release reads.
Utahns with underlying medical conditions and who live in certain “meeting institutions” can also be vaccinated in phase 2, according to the release. The health department no longer considers job status or type of work when prioritizing groups for the vaccine.
“If we focus on age, it will help reduce infections and alleviate hospitalizations more than any other category of individuals, as we continue to administer vaccinations,” said Spencer Cox, governor. “I support this change a lot and know it will save lives.”
When phase 2 begins, people will receive the vaccine at mass vaccination clinics at local health departments. Later in phase 2, the vaccines will be distributed by local pharmacies and primary care providers, the announcement reads.
Further phase 2 details, such as how vaccine clinics will verify the ages of people seeking the vaccines, have yet to be determined. More information about Utah’s vaccination plans is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine.
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.
The Department of Health reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths according to the definition of the case set out 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 mainly 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