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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 2,644 on Friday, with 14 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The state now estimates there are about 56,576 active COVID-19 cases in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 2,494, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 22.1%. There are now 539 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data shows.
The new numbers indicate a 1.1% increase in positive cases since Thursday. Of the 1,623,795 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 15.3% have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 10,547 new people were tested for COVID-19 as of Friday out of an additional 15,970 tests conducted, state data shows.
There are now 539 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, state data shows. Of those, 206 are occupying intensive care unit beds. About 95% of ICU beds are occupied in Utah as of Friday, including about 99% of ICU beds at the state's 16 referral hospitals. About 57% of non-ICU hospital beds are filled Friday, state data shows.
Health department data now shows that 1,347 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far in Utah, mostly in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Washington counties.
A total of 14,625 vaccine doses have been shipped to Utah so far. The Utah Department of Health said on Friday that it learned it will be receiving fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week than it was planning for with 16,575 doses instead of 23,400. The health department said it is working to figure out why.
The Associated Press reported Friday that the government has said there is confusion among the states between planning and training numbers and actual allocations, which are only provided the week prior to shipment. Pfizer has said it has not had any production issues and no vaccine shipments are on hold or delayed.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney announced Friday that he would be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
"The attending physician's office has now informed all senators that for continuity of government purposes, we are to receive vaccination, and that there is no reason to delay," Sen. Romney said in a statement. "In accordance with this directive, I will receive the vaccine. I will also continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings in line with public health guidance.
"Our most urgent task is to get emergency COVID relief across the finish line," Romney continued. "I look to Congressional leadership to finalize the bill, hopefully in a way that is consistent with much of the bipartisan proposal we presented earlier this week."
The senator received his vaccine around 3:50 p.m., posting a picture on Twitter.
Grateful for the hard work from the medical community, gov. partners, and others who are working around the clock to deliver a safe & effective #COVID19 vaccine. It's time for Congress to do its job and finish what our bipartisan group started by passing emergency COVID relief. pic.twitter.com/Zje73g5oRX
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 18, 2020
Friday's totals give Utah 246,562 total confirmed cases, with 9,883 total hospitalizations and 1,140 total deaths from the disease. A total of 188,846 Utah COVID-19 cases are now estimated to be recovered, state data shows.
The 14 deaths reported Friday were:
- A Carbon County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 with an unknown hospitalization status
- A Davis County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- An Emery 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 a resident of a long-term care facility
- Two Salt Lake County men who were between the ages of 65 and 84 and were hospitalized when they died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when she died
- A Sanpete County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Utah County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Washington County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Weber County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Weber County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Weber County woman who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was not hospitalized when she died
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Friday. Utah officials provided updates at news conferences 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.
Referral hospitals are the 16 Utah hospitals with the capability to provide the best COVID-19 health care.
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.
For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
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.
