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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 3,769 on Wednesday, with 18 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
There are now an estimated 52,187 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 2,963, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 32.7%.
The new numbers indicate a 1.3% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 1,774,635 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 16.6% have tested positive for the disease. The number of tests conducted increased by 19,775 Wednesday, and 12,457 of those tests were people who had not previously been tested for the disease, state data shows.
There have now been 60,462 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in Utah, according to the health department. In total, 157,925 vaccine doses have been shipped to Utah so far. Health officials note that there is a data reporting lag of up to seven days between when doses are shipped to Utah, administered to patients, and reported to the health department.
There are 525 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 192 in intensive care, state data shows. About 87% of all intensive care unit beds in Utah are currently occupied, including about 89% of ICU beds in the state's 16 referral hospitals. About 52% of Utah's non-ICU hospital beds are occupied as of Wednesday, state data shows.
The 18 deaths reported Wednesday were:
- A Summit County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Millard County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when he died
- A Duchesne County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Box Elder County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- Three Salt Lake County men who were between the ages of 45 and 64 and were hospitalized when they died
- A Weber County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Weber 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 hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Washington County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when she died
- A Weber County woman who was between the ages of 25 and 44 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 Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
Wednesday's totals give Utah 292,720 total confirmed cases, with 11,463 total hospitalizations and 1,330 total deaths from the disease. An estimated 239,203 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, according to the health department.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Wednesday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is scheduled to provide an update on Friday, according to his office.
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.
