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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah saw another disheartening COVID-19 day Wednesday with 722 new cases — the most in a single day since the pandemic began — as well as seven more deaths from the disease.
The Utah Department of Health now estimates there are 11,377 active cases of COVID-19 in the state.
"Today’s positive case counts represent another daily record, and further reinforce the need for Utah residents to be taking the appropriate precautions to protect themselves and those around them," health department state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said in a statement Wednesday. "Please, wear a mask in public, practice physical distancing, stay home if you are sick, and wash your hands regularly. We are all part of the solution."
The new numbers indicate a 2.8% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 385,760 tests conducted in Utah so far, 7% were positive for COVID-19. Testing increased by 2,911 Wednesday, the health department reported.
The lower testing total reported Wednesday is likely due to testing sites having reduced hours over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to the health department.
Another 15,178 cases are considered recovered because those people were diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and have not died.
Another 25 people were hospitalized with the disease between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the health department. There are currently 199 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah.
State health data shows just under 64% of all intensive care unit, or ICU, hospital beds are occupied in Utah as of Wednesday. That number has hovered around 60-61% for the last few days. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU beds as of Wednesday is 76, which decreased by eight from Tuesday, according to state health data.
About 53% of non-ICU beds are occupied in the state, according to the health department.
Wednesday's totals give Utah 26,755 total confirmed cases, with 1,678 total hospitalizations and 201 total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 26,033 cases in the state.
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 seven deaths reported Wednesday were:
- A Utah County man between the ages of 45 and 64 who was not hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man between the ages of 45 and 64 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when she died
- A Washington County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was a long-term care facility resident
- A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a long-term care facility resident
- A Salt Lake County man between the ages of 65 and 84 who was a long-term care facility resident
- A San Juan County man between the ages of 45 and 64 who was hospitalized when he died
The new case average for the past seven days is 576.4 cases per day as of Wednesday — also the highest since the pandemic began. The previous highest seven-day average was 564.9 per day on July 3.
The positive test rate average over the past seven days is 9.5%, according to state data.
There is no COVID-19 news conference expected today. Utah officials are expected to provide an update Thursday at 11:30 a.m., according to Gov. Gary Herbert's office.
Contributing: Josh Furlong, KSL.com
