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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported 458 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.
That brings Utah to a total of 51,406 positive tests since the pandemic began. No new deaths from the disease in the state were reported Saturday, leaving the state's toll at 407 resident deaths. The new cases come as just 2,815 more people were tested over Friday's numbers.
Over the past seven days, the state's rate of positive tests is 9.1%. The average number of new daily cases reported over that same time is 366.
The state now estimates there are 7,658 active cases of COVID-19 in the state; 43,342 of the state's total cases are considered recovered. Currently, 119 Utahns are hospitalized with confirmed cases, and 48 of those patients are in the ICU.
That's down from a high of 225 hospitalized Utahns on July 23; 97 of those patients were in intensive care.
Overall, Utahns are now occupying 53.6% of the state's total hospital beds and 61.7% of its ICU beds, the health department says. The health department believes 3,057 total Utahns have been hospitalized for the virus at some point.
As many Utah children are now back in school, Gov. Gary Herbert this week praised them for the caution they've shown so far. “We're encouraged about what’s taking place," Herbert said. "They're leading the way for us."
As of Saturday, the health department had reported 18 total outbreaks of COVID-19 in Utah schools. The department defines an "outbreak" as "two or more cases associated with a setting outside of the household within 14 days." The virus has canceled a few sporting events and forced some kids and teachers into quarantine, but has yet to derail a district's reopening in Utah.
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.
