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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health updated the state's novel coronavirus numbers Saturday afternoon, revealing 166 new cases and two new deaths from COVID-19.
That brings Utah to 3,948 total cases and 41 deaths from the disease, up from 3,782 cases on Friday. The number of cases grew by 4.4%; case counts have not increased by more than 5% since April 16.
The total number of cases reported by the health department includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah’s outbreak began, including those who are infected now, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
The two who died from COVID-19 were both women over 60 with underlying health conditions, according to health department spokesman Tom Hudachko. One was a Salt Lake County resident and the other was from Washington County; one had been in a long-term care facility prior to her death.
The state has now conducted at least 90,206 tests for COVID-19, and the rate of positive tests is also 4.4% and has been decreasing. The state conducted 5,509 additional tests over Friday's numbers.
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Utah's total coronavirus-related hospitalizations now sit at 329, an increase of 14 over yesterday. At least 1,399 Utahns are estimated to have recovered from the coronavirus.
Salt Lake County has now seen 2,051 total confirmed cases of COVID-19; Utah County has 725, Summit County has had 355, Davis County has 268, the Weber-Morgan health district has reported 143 and Wasatch County has had 132.
Every district in Utah has reported coronavirus cases, but the Central Utah, Southeast Utah, Tooele County, Summit County and TriCounty districts have not reported any coronavirus-related deaths.
The numbers come as state leaders moved this week to begin reopening the state at the beginning of May. Utah's Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission has recommended Gov. Gary Herbert move to the next phase of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan at that time, from the "urgent" to the "stabilization" phase.
Some restaurants and gyms may be able to reopen at that time, while following social distancing guidelines. Several other states, including Georgia and Oklahoma, have already begun easing their restrictions.
As the virus has disproportionately impacted people of color, particularly Utah's Hispanic population, Herbert this week also assembled a multicultural task force that will help underserved populations.







