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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 1,107 from Thursday, with 15 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The 15 deaths, however, did not all happen in the last 24 hours, according to the health department. Nine of the deaths were from the past week, while there were two each from September, August and July, a statement from the health department said.
"Our office has seen a notable increase in the number of COVID-related death investigations we have conducted in the past several days," health department Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erik Christensen said in the statement. "While we would expect this increase given the current surge in case counts it does not make these deaths any less tragic."
The health department now estimates there are 18,516 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 945, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 13.7%.
The 15 deaths reported Friday were:
- A Utah County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 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 a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Tooele County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Sanpete County man who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County woman who was over the age of 85, and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Davis County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Davis County woman who was between the ages of 25 and 44 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Weber county woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when she died
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 25 and 44 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
The health department didn't specify which of those deaths were from previous months.
COVID-19 deaths reported by the health department often occurred several days or weeks before the department reports them, the agency's statement said. It takes time for hospitals, long-term care facilities and funeral homes to report them to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, which in turn investigates the deaths to determine whether or not they were related to COVID-19.
The four deaths reported Friday that were from July and August were referred back to the medical examiner's office for further examination. Thursday, the office determined that all four were COVID-19 deaths, according to the health department.
The department added that deaths are a lagging indicator in the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials expect deaths, like hospitalizations, to follow a surge in cases of the disease.
"Everyday at the Office of the Medical Examiner there are harsh reminders of the seriousness of this disease. I see first-hand the devastating impacts it has on those who are left behind," Christensen said. "Let me be clear, these deaths are preventable. None of the individuals who we determine to have died from COVID-19 would have suffered this fate at the time they did had they not been infected with COVID-19."
Friday's new numbers indicate a 1.5% increase in positive cases since Thursday. Of the 845,583 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 8.9% have tested positive for COVID-19. The health department reported an increase of 9,365 tests conducted as of Friday.
There are currently 190 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah, including 73 in intensive care unit, or ICU, beds in the state. About 69% of all Utah ICU beds are filled as of Friday, while about 52% of non-ICU beds are occupied, state data shows.
Friday's totals give Utah 75,157 total confirmed cases, with 3,916 total hospitalizations and 474 total deaths from the disease. A total of 56,167 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, according to the health department.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Friday. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert provided an update at a news conference Thursday.
Correction: The health department originally said in their list of reported deaths said a Tooele County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when he died had passed away. Later, the health department corrected its list, stating it was a Utah County man. This story has been updated to show that correction.
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
