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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 1,498 on Thursday, with two more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
Thursday's number is three cases short of tying Utah's previous single-day record, which was set on Oct. 7 when the state saw 1,501 new cases.
There are now an estimated 23,249 active COVID-19 cases in Utah, according to the health department. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 1,204, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 13.9%.
The new numbers indicate a 1.7% increase in positive cases since Wednesday. Of the 948,002 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 9.5% have tested positive for the disease. The health department reported an increase of 7,315 tests conducted as of Thursday.
There are 258 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 99 in intensive care unit beds, state data shows. About 74% of all ICU beds in the state are occupied as of Thursday, while about 57% of non-ICU beds are filled.
Both deaths reported Thursday were Salt Lake County men who were over the age of 85, according to the health department. One of the men was hospitalized when he died, and the other was not hospitalized.
Thursday's numbers give Utah 90,461 total confirmed cases, with 4,511 total hospitalizations and 529 total deaths from the disease. There are now 66,683 Utah COVID-19 cases estimated to be recovered, according to the health department.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Thursday. Utah officials provided an update at a Tuesday news conference.
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.
More information about Utah's health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
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.
