First Coronavirus-Related Death Reported In Utah; Cases Rise To 181

SALT LAKE CITY — A Davis County man has died from COVID-19, making it the first virus-related death in the state, according to officials with the Utah Department of Health.

Officials said the man was older than 60 and his case was considered travel-related.

The announcement came around 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

Health officials said the patient tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday and was being treated at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful at the time of his death. He had “underlying medical conditions, and was hospitalized for two days prior to his death.”

“If you didn’t take it seriously before, please take this very seriously now. We are in this for the long haul.” – Dr. Angela Dunn. pic.twitter.com/tnl5U1wMtT

— Ashley Kewish Sampson (@ashleykewish) March 22, 2020

Officials with the Davis County Health Department said they were contacting those who may have been in close contact with the patient and monitoring them for fever and respiratory symptoms.

Utah’s first death came as the total number of confirmed cases rose to 181 — 169 resident cases and 12 visitor cases. The total showed a 45-person jump from Friday.

Salt Lake County had the highest count at 80 resident and four visitor cases while Summit County had reported 50 cases — 43 residents and seven visitors.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert expressed his condolences on social media.

“First and foremost, Jeanette and I want to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this individual. The pain this family must be feeling right now puts into perspective the sacrifices we are all making to keep one another safe and healthy. We encourage everyone to do their part by practicing safe health practices, including social distancing.”

First and foremost, Jeanette and I want to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this individual. The pain this family must be feeling right now puts into perspective the sacrifices we are all making to keep one another safe and healthy. https://t.co/wIz6Oa0B1J

— Gary R. Herbert (@GovHerbert) March 22, 2020

“Even though we knew some Utah residents would lose their lives to this illness it is heartbreaking to announce this first death. We share in this family’s grief and are deeply committed to doing all we can to ensure the health and safety of our community,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, UDOH state epidemiologist. “We need all Utah residents to do their part in taking the necessary steps to limit the spread of this illness.”

The patient’s name was not released.

Lakeview Hospital officials said the patient’s family did the right thing by calling ahead and advising them of a possible COVID-19 patient.

They said medical staff met the patient in full protective gear and escorted him into the hospital.

inside, limiting possible exposure. We continue to have the family in our thoughts.

— MountainStar Healthcare (@MstarHealth) March 22, 2020

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Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.