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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health Sunday is reporting 2,386 new test-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one new coronavirus-related death in the state.
That is the most new cases ever reported on a Sunday in the state, which reached its single-day record of nearly 3,000 cases on Friday. It brings Utah to 132,621 total confirmed cases and 659 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Currently, 424 Utahns are reported to be hospitalized because of the coronavirus and 6,084 have now been hospitalized overall. The current number is up 14 from Saturday and sets a new record for Utah patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at one time. Of those 424, the health department reports that 170 patients are in the intensive care unit and that the state is currently using 78.2% of its ICU beds for any reason.
Over the past week, the state is averaging 2,290 new cases reported per day and a positive test percentage of 20.6. That's a new high for the rolling seven-day positive test percentage, meaning one-fifth of Utahns tested recently are now coming back positive.
On Sunday the state reported that 9,311 new people were tested; Utah has now conducted at least 1,602,055 tests on 1,158,817 different people. Since the outbreak began, the state's positive test percentage is 8.7.
In an email, the state health department said the new death reported Sunday was a Tooele County man between ages 45 and 64 who was hospitalized when he died. Tooele County has lost eight residents to the virus.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert held an emergency meeting yesterday because of Utah's consistently large case counts and strained hospital capacity. He said on Friday that he will "be announcing additional policies designed to address this ongoing surge" in the "coming days."
The state hasn't reported fewer than 2,000 cases in a day since Tuesday.
This week:
- Saturday: Gov. Herbert holds emergency meeting as 2,956 COVID-19 cases reported; U. to test all students
- Friday: 2,987 more COVID-19 cases, 17 deaths reported Friday as Utah breaks records again
- Thursday: 'It's discouraging': Herbert provides COVID-19 update as state reports record-high 2,807 new cases
- Wednesday: 2,110 more COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths reported in Utah Wednesday
- Tuesday: 1,669 more COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths reported in Utah Tuesday
- Monday: 1,196 more COVID-19 cases, no deaths reported Monday 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.
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.
