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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 1,343 from Thursday, with four more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The new numbers indicate a 1.6% increase in positive cases since Thursday. Of the 901,048 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 9.2% have tested positive for the disease.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 1,148, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 13.8%, and the department reported Friday that 9,026 Utahns were tested over Thursday's numbers.
Friday's totals give Utah 83,290 total confirmed cases, with 4,220 total hospitalizations and 505 total deaths from the disease. In an email, the health department said the four deceased Utahns reported Friday were:
- A Salt Lake County man over age 85 who was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County woman over age 85 who was also a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized at the time of his death
- A Davis County man between ages 65 and 84 who was also hospitalized
Overall, Salt Lake County now accounts for 54% of the state's coronavirus deaths; 42% of deaths in the state are of long-term care facility residents. Salt Lake County was responsible for 516 of Friday's new cases, and the other recent hotspot of Utah County was responsible for 412.
There is no COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Friday. Utah officials provided an update at a news conference on Thursday, commenting on yet another new record-high count of 1,501 new cases reported that day. Dr. Emily Spivak, a professor of medicine at University of Utah Health, said Utah medical providers are feeling "very overwhelmed" by the high case counts and hospitalizations reported lately.
According to the health department, there are currently 243 Utahns hospitalized for COVID-19, contributing to the state's current 72% utilization of its intensive care beds.
Spivak encouraged Utahns to follow medical guidance and stay the course. "I honestly don’t know how (masks) became a debate,” Spivak said during the news conference. "It is a fact: they work and they are safe. ... Don’t overthink it, just wear a mask."
Gov. Gary Herbert acknowledged that Utahns are "all tired" of the pandemic but encouraged them to be "part of the solution, not part of the problem."
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.
