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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health said Saturday there are 2,613 new test-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and nine more Utahns have died from the disease.
That brings Utah to 303,723 total confirmed cases and 1,390 deaths since the pandemic began.
The rolling seven-day positive test rate is 32.6%, the department said, and the state is averaging 3,147 new reported cases per day during that time.
There are currently 535 Utahns reported hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 181 in intensive care, contributing to a statewide ICU utilization of more than 90%.
The health department says 99,612 vaccine doses have now been administered across the state, over 10,000 more than reported Friday. The vaccines require two doses for maximum effectiveness.
In an email, the health department said the nine Utahns who died included:
- A Davis County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- Two Salt Lake County men between ages 45 and 64 who were hospitalized when they died
- A Salt Lake County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man over age 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County man over age 85 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Uintah County man over age 85 who was not hospitalized when he died
- Two Weber County men between ages 65 and 84 who were hospitalized when they died
Men now account for more than 62% of Utah's coronavirus-related deaths. Utahns over age 64 account for 8% of the state's total case count but 77% of its deaths, and more than 13% of Utahns over age 84 who've tested positive for COVID-19 have died because of it.
There is no coronavirus news conference from state leaders scheduled for over the weekend, but new Gov. Spencer Cox led one on Friday from the state Capitol. Cox said Utah's school teachers will receive access to the vaccine beginning Monday and outlined a plan to speed vaccine distribution, as well as a tentative timeline for the next phases of vaccine access.
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.
