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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's number of COVID-19 cases has increased by a record-high 2,987 on Friday, with 17 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
It's the second day in a row Utah has broken its own single-day case counts record. Seventeen reported deaths is also the most reported in a single day since the pandemic began — seven more than the previous high, set at 10 deaths on Nov. 1.
"The numbers being reported today are exactly what we've been warning Utah residents about for weeks," Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a news release. "They are why we've implored Utahns to adopt the behaviors that could have prevented us from reaching this point."
The governor also said he will be announcing some policies in the next few days that will address the current spike in cases.
"COVID-19 is spreading rampantly and uncontrolled in our communities. Getting ahead of this trend will become more and more difficult with every passing day," Herbert said. "In the coming days, I will be announcing additional policies designed to address this ongoing surge."
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 2,033, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 19.7%.
The health department estimates there are now 35,290 active cases of the disease in Utah, meaning that roughly 1.1% of the state's population is thought to be currently infected with the disease.
Friday's new numbers indicate a 2.4% increase in positive cases since Thursday. Of the 1,136,826 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 11.2% have tested positive for the disease. The state reported an increase of 11,220 people tested as of Friday, according to health department data.
There are currently 395 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Utah — another record high. Of those, 167 are in intensive care unit beds, state data shows. About 76% of Utah's ICU beds are filled as of Friday, while about 55% of non-ICU beds are occupied, according to the health department.
The 17 deaths reported Friday include:
- A Utah 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 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Tooele County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Davis County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 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 Washington County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Juab County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Washington County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 25 and 44 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Weber County man who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when he died
Friday's totals give Utah 127,279 total confirmed cases, with 5,922 total hospitalizations and 649 total deaths from the disease since the pandemic began. A total of 91,340 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 officials provided COVID-19 updates at a news conference on Thursday.
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.
