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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 716 on Tuesday, with 12 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
Seven of the deaths occurred last month but were still being investigated by state medical examiners, according to the health department. A total of 11,966 more vaccine doses were also administered.
The health department estimates there are now 19,767 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah. That is the first time that estimate has been under 20,000 since Oct. 2, according to state data.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 779, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period reported with the "people over people" method is now 13.3%. The positive test rate per day seven-day average calculated with the "test over test" method is now 6.2%.
There are now 239 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 95 in intensive care, state data shows. About 69% of all intensive care unit beds in the state of Utah are filled as of Tuesday, including about 73% of ICU beds in the state's 16 referral hospitals. About 46% of non-ICU hospital beds are occupied in Utah Tuesday, according to the health department.
A total of 623,876 vaccines have been administered in the state, up from 611,910 Monday. Of those, 213,278 are second doses of the vaccine.
The new numbers indicate a 0.2% increase in positive cases since Monday. Of the 2,172,963 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 17% have tested positive for COVID-19. The number of total tests conducted is now at 3,724,955, up 18,480 since Monday. Of those, 6,458 were tests of people who hadn't previously been tested for COVID-19, according to state data.
Tuesday's totals give Utah 367,789 total confirmed cases, with 14,520 total hospitalizations and 1,865 total deaths from the disease. A total of 346,157 COVID-19 cases are now estimated to be recovered, state data shows.
The health department also renewed the state's emergency health order regarding COVID-19, replacing the previous order that expired Monday evening. The new order contains updated information on when mask mandates might be lifted in certain Utah counties, regulations for bars, the state's transmission index and several other items.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox released an executive order on Tuesday evening updating the COVID-19 vaccination plan. The update now includes a section regarding vaccine eligibility criteria, which "will be based on the direction" of the health department in consultation with the governor's office and posted at coronavirus.utah.gov.
Cox is scheduled to provide a pandemic update at a news conference Thursday at 11 a.m., according to the governor's office.
The 12 deaths reported Tuesday were:
- A Cache County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Davis County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Davis County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
- A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Salt Lake 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 hospitalized when she died
- A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Sevier County woman who was over the age of 85 and was not hospitalized when she died
- A Sevier County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Washington County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Weber County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
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.
The "people over people" method for the seven-day average positive test rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 by the total number of people tested. The "test over test" method is calculated by dividing the total number of positive tests by the total number of tests administered.
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.
