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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah health officials on New Year's Eve announced an "unofficial" record for daily new COVID-19 cases, with preliminary data showing "about 4,700" new cases within the past 24 hours.
The Utah Department of Health does not report new data on holidays or weekends, and the state agency took Friday off for the holiday. That means the high case count won't become official until Monday.
"This would be one of the largest, if not the largest, single-day case count. Omicron is here, and it is on the move," the department said on Twitter.
The previous state record occurred on Dec. 30, 2020, when 4,706 cases were reported in one day.
"If you haven't been vaccinated or received your booster dose, it's critical to do so now," the tweet said.
Those with "any" symptoms should get tested immediately, officials said. Those who test positive should stay home and away from others.
The department urged those who attend New Year's Eve celebrations and other gatherings this weekend to wear masks.
