Utah reports 4,672 new COVID-19 cases, and another 13 deaths on New Year’s Eve

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health reported 4,672 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with another 13 deaths.

According to the Department of Health, this now averages 2,288 positive cases per day on seven days. The positive test rate per day for that period is now 25.6%. The total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic is now at 1,269.

According to the health department, 11,412 new people were tested for COVID-19 as of Thursday, completing the state’s total tests since the start of the pandemic 1,726,003.

There are currently 510 COVID-19 patients admitted to Utah, state data shows. Total hospitalizations since the onset of the outbreak are now 10,956.

A total of 30,200 COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered, compared to 23,970 on Wednesday, according to state data. Health officials note that there is a delay in data departing up to seven days from the vaccination of doses to Utah, administered to patients and reported to the state health department. The state reported Wednesday that more than 125,000 total vaccine doses have been shipped or approved to be shipped to Utah.

This story will be updated.

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 as defined by the case set forth 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.

Lauren Bennett

More stories you might be interested in

.Source