Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported 1,468 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state Saturday, as well as eight new deaths from the disease.
That brings Utah to 345,430 total reported cases and 1,663 deaths since the pandemic began.
The new cases come as 8,768 more people were reportedly tested. Over the past week, Utah is averaging 1,509 new COVID-19 cases per day and a positive test rate of 18%.
There are currently 430 Utahns hospitalized due to COVID-19, the health department says, bringing total hospitalizations during the pandemic to 13,427. Of those hospitalized, 139 are reportedly in intensive care, contributing to a current statewide ICU capacity of just over 86%.
All those metrics are moving in a positive direction from a week ago. The rolling positive test percentage is down about a point, and the seven-day average case number is down by about 300 cases. There are 51 fewer Utahns hospitalized and 57 fewer in intensive care.
The health department says the state has so far administered 300,516 doses of the coronavirus vaccine, almost 19,000 more than yesterday and nearly 80,000 more than last Saturday. Almost 58,000 of the vaccines administered have been second doses; both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses for maximum effect.
The eight deaths reported on Saturday include:
- A Cache County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized when he died
- A Davis County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized
- A Salt Lake County woman over age 85 who was not hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man between ages 45 and 64 who was hospitalized
- A Salt Lake County woman between ages 45 and 64 who was hospitalized
- A Salt Lake County man over age 85 who was hospitalized
- A Salt Lake County woman between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized
- A Weber County woman over age 85 who was the resident of a long-term care facility
There is no coronavirus news conference from state leaders scheduled for over the weekend.
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.
