SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health reported 908 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Sunday.
The increase brings the total number of known infections in Utah to 354,608 since the pandemic occurred here almost a year ago.
There are currently 329 people being treated with COVID-19 in hospitals in Utah, which is six less than reported Saturday and less than 413 a week ago.
Decreasing number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths resulted in a smaller average number of daily cases – 1,143 – and that 15.6% of all COVID-19 tests were positive. Last Sunday, the average percentage of positive tests was 16.9%.
The declining trend has continued at least over the past few weeks.
Utah health officials said a test positivity rate of 3 to 5% is ideal and that the spread of infection is under control.
Cases nationwide declined by more than 16% during the previous week, with less than 1 million new cases reported in one day, which has not happened since the first week of November, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -prevention. .
In addition to the smaller number of new cases in Utah, the Department of Health has reported three more deaths. Sunday’s reports usually contain smaller numbers, as not all test and vaccine facilities are open at the weekend.
The deaths reported Sunday include a Tooele County man over the age of 85 who was hospitalized at the time of his death; a 45- to 64-year-old man in Utah County who was hospitalized; and a Weber County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 who was also admitted to the hospital.
In all, COVID-19 took the lives of 1,736 people in Utah.
More than 2 million people have been tested for the virus in Utah, including 5,845 more than reported Saturday. The state has issued 413,937 COVID-19 vaccines, including an increase of 9,852 since reports Saturday.
More than 103,000 vaccines have been administered in Utah in the past week, as the State Health Department’s program continues to grow.
Utah has received nearly 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, as awarded by the federal government. At least 101,915 people in Utah have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to State Health Department statistics, meaning nearly 80,000 doses have yet to be used and are in storage throughout Utah.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said some doses are reserved for people who have had their first dose and will soon receive the second dose. But the governor also said he prefers to vaccinate as many people as possible with the available stock, whether it is the first or second dose.
Visit coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine for information on who is currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Utah.