Three Long-Term Care Facility Patients Among Recent COVID-19 Deaths

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Four more people have died from COVID-19 in Utah and three of those victims lived in different long-term care facilities, according to officials with the Utah Department of Health.

As of Friday’s announcement, a total of 17 Utahns have died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and 2,102 people have tested positive for COVID-19.

State epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said the four latest deaths were men older than the age of 60 in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

“Two of those were from a long-term care facility and one was hospitalized at the time of death,” Dunn said about the Salt Lake County victims.

The victims who died at the long-term care facilities were residents at the same two facilities where four people had died earlier in the week, Dunn said.

She did not name the facilities, but UDOH officials were investigating.

The Utah County victim had been hospitalized prior to his death, Dunn said.

Dunn said 183 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak began and over 40,000 people have been tested for the virus.

See the latest updates and information from the Utah Coronavirus Task Force here.

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.

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.