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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 249 from Sunday, with five more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department now estimates there are 7,810 active cases of the disease in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 350, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 8.9%.
The new numbers indicate a 0.5% increase in positive cases since Sunday. Of the 626,354 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 7.9% have tested positive for COVID-19.
The number of tests conducted increased by just 1,518 as of Monday, according to the health department. However, health department officials said the number is "artificially low" due to a laboratory reporting delay. Positive cases from one of the health department's lab partners have been reported, but negative test results from that partner have not yet been reported, health officials said.
The health department is working with the lab partner to resolve the delay, and the statistics will be updated as soon as possible, officials said.
Although the test total reported Monday is artificially low, it is the lowest daily test increase reported since April 15, when 1,138 tests were conducted, according to state data.
Utah has the capacity to test about 9,000 people per day for COVID-19, state leaders have said. However, demand for testing has been lower in recent weeks, in part because the disease is less prevalent and fewer people are experiencing symptoms.
Utah has entered a multi-state compact in coordination with the Rockefeller Foundation, to purchase more antigen rapid tests that can deliver results in as little as 20 minutes. State leaders say mobile testing units have been authorized to conduct more testing events in Utah communities and plans have been discussed to increase testing as schools reopen.
However, Utah is still testing far below its 9,000-per-day capacity. Most days see tests conducted increase somewhere in the 2,000 to 5,000 test range. Though Utah is seeing fewer COVID-19 cases per day, the state's positive test rate has remained largely unchanged due to the low testing activity. Utah's overall positive test rate has increased slightly, from 7.8% last week to 7.9% on Sunday and today.
There are currently 130 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, state data shows. Of those, 57 are occupying intensive care unit, or ICU, beds in Utah, state data shows. About 66% of all ICU beds in the state are occupied as of Monday, while about 50% of non-ICU beds are filled.
The five deaths reported Monday were:
- A Davis County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A San Juan County man who was over the age of 85
- A Uintah County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Wasatch County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
Additionally, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation reported its first COVID-19 death, a woman who was over the age of 60, according to a news release from the TriCounty Health Department. The woman was a resident of the Fort Duchesne community and was being treated in Provo at the time of her death. She had some underlying medical conditions and was hospitalized for several days before she died on Saturday.
Monday's totals give Utah 49,364 total confirmed cases, with 2,941 total hospitalizations and 390 total deaths from the disease. A total of 41,164 COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered in Utah, the health department reports.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference expected Monday. Utah officials typically provide updates at news conferences once a week on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah's outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered 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 has not died.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district's website.
Information is 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 scroll down to the "Data Notes" section at the bottom of the page.
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Jacob Klopfenstein
