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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health said Saturday there are 1,340 new test-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and that three more Utahns have died of the disease since Friday's reported figures.
The update brings Utah to 93,297 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 540 deaths since the pandemic began.
In an email, the health department said the three deceased Utahns were:
- A Davis County man over age 85 who was not hospitalized at the time of death
- A Salt Lake County woman over age 85 who was a resident of a long-term care facility
- A Carbon County man between ages 65 and 84 who was hospitalized at the time of death
Carbon County is part of the Southeast Utah Health District, which by the state's count has lost only three Utahns to COVID-19. However, the county is now reporting more than 275 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks. There are only about 20,000 residents in the county, but the health department measures case rates per 100,000 to normalize case data across the state.
Carbon County is in the "moderate" level of transmission under new guidance issued Tuesday by Gov. Gary Herbert and Utah health officials. Utah's most populous counties, Salt Lake and Utah, are both in the "high" level of transmission and are responsible for 582 and 294 of Saturday's new cases, respectively.
Both have a much higher rate of new cases per 100,000, as well. Salt Lake County's 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 630.5, and Utah County's is even higher at 709.6.
Currently, 298 Utahns are reportedly hospitalized due to the coronavirus, another record high daily reported number. The state's hospitalization numbers have been higher than ever in recent days, straining capacity at some urban care centers.
Of those hospitalized Utahns, 98 are reported to be in intensive care. The state is currently estimated to be using 75% of its ICU beds.
The state is averaging 1,222 new COVID-19 cases per day and a positive test percentage of 14 over the past week. The health department is reporting 9,142 more Utahns' test results Saturday; 69,110 Utahns are now estimated to have recovered from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
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.
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.
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.
