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SALT LAKE CITY — Another 462 COVID-19 cases were reported Monday with two more deaths, according to Utah Department of Health officials.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 951, according to the health department. The average dropped below 1,000 on Friday for the first time since Oct. 2, according to the agency's data.
There were 3,313 more Utahns tested and 6,644 more total tests reported Monday. The state's seven-day running average "people over people" positivity fell to 14.1% while the state's "test over test" rate dropped to 6.4%.
Health department officials said a Weber County man and a Utah County man died as a result of the coronavirus. Both were between the ages of 65 and 84, and both were hospitalized at the time of their deaths.
State data show there are now 274 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations also continues to fall. The state's referral center intensive care units were listed at 79% capacity and ICUs were at 75% capacity statewide Monday. Both figures are now below max utilization and slightly above the state's target goal of 77% for referral centers and 72% for statewide ICUs.
While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to fall, the number of COVID-19 vaccinations is slowly going up — which is another positive sign. The state reports 1,033 more COVID-19 vaccinations from its update Sunday. A total of 525,033 Utahns have now received the COVID-19 vaccine since last December.
Monday's totals give Utah 361,756 total confirmed cases since March 2020, with 14,209 total hospitalizations and 1,796 total deaths from the disease.
There is no COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Monday as government offices are closed for the holiday. The next briefing is scheduled for Thursday.
Health department announces more free rapid testing
The state health department also announced Monday location sites and times for more free rapid antigen testing across Utah over the next week. The sites were selected based on higher regional positivity rates, low testing sites, wastewater sampling and other surveillance data.
There are a total of 13 testing locations in 10 different counties across the state this week. The health department encourages anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to get tested but residents can get tested even if they don't have symptoms.
Anyone seeking to get tested is encouraged to register online before they receive a test. People can arrive at a testing site without registering but they may have to wait longer. Registration for the rapid testing this week can be found here.
Box Elder County
- Bear River Middle School (300 E. 1500 in Garland): 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cache County
- Ridgeline High School (180 N. 300 West in Millville): Noon to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Hyrum Senior Center (695 E. Main in Hyrum): 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Duchesne County
- Duchesne Justice Court (21554 W. 9000 South in Duchesne): 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Grand County
- Southeast Utah Health Department (575 S. Kane Creek in Moab): 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Juab County
- Juab School District Office (346 E. 600 North in Nephi): 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Salt Lake County
- Herriman High School (11917 S. Mustang Trail in Herriman): 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse (12691 S. 3600 West in Riverton): Noon to 7 p.m.
Sevier County
- Central Utah Public Health Department (70 Westview Drive in Richfield): 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Summit County
- South Summit School District (285 E. 400 South in Kamas): 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
- Park City High School (1750 Kearns Bvld. in Park City): Noon to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Tooele County
- Wendover Fire Station (151 9th Street in Wendover): Noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Wasatch County
- Wasatch County Events Complex (415 Southfield Road in Heber City): Noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Many of the locations will provide drive-thru testing while others will be conducted inside buildings. Masks and physical distancing are encouraged for anyone waiting in line for a test.
The health department advises that since antigen testing is less sensitive than PCR testing that there is a possibility for false negative results.
"If an individual has symptoms and tests negative on the rapid antigen test or an individual doesn't have symptoms and tests positive on the rapid antigen test, they will be referred for a follow-up, confirmation PCR test," the department wrote.
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.
