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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 403 from Monday, with seven more deaths reported, but a lab reporting issue is still affecting the state's data, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department estimates that there are 7,842 active cases of the disease in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 370, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 9.3%.
The health department is still working to resolve a reporting delay with a laboratory partner, according to an emailed statement from the agency. The reporting delay also affected Monday's new COVID-19 case numbers.
"The number of total people tested remains artificially low today, and the percent of positive tests artificially high as the (health department) works to resolve a reporting delay that resulted in negative lab results not being reported from a laboratory partner," the statement says.
Tuesday's numbers indicate a 0.8% increase in positive cases since Monday. Of the 630,599 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 7.9% have tested positive for COVID-19. The number of tests conducted has increased by 4,245 as of Tuesday, the health department reported.
There are currently 124 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, according to the health department. That is the lowest number of hospitalized patients since June 11, when 119 people were hospitalized with the disease, state data shows.
Of the 124 patients hospitalized Tuesday, 47 are occupying intensive care unit, or ICU beds. Overall, about 66% of all ICU beds in the state of Utah are occupied, while about 45% of non-ICU beds are filled, according to the health department.
The seven deaths reported Tuesday include:
- A Sanpete County man who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Weber County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Weber County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Washington County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
Tuesday's totals give Utah 49,767 total confirmed cases, with 2,969 total hospitalizations and 397 total deaths from the disease. A total of 41,529 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, the health department reported.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference expected Tuesday. 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
