CORONAVIRUS
590 New Cases Of COVID-19 Reported, 1 New Death, 34 New Hospitalizations

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – There are 34 more Utahns hospitalized Thursday as health officials announced 590 additional cases of COVID-19 and one new death.
There have been a total of 19,374 confirmed cases so far, 1,290 of which required hospitalization. A total of 164 Utahns have died as a result of the virus.
Currently, there are 170 positive COVID-19 cases in Utah hospitals. Of those patients, 79 are being treated in an ICU. There are also 60 patients currently hospitalized as COVID-19 persons under investigation, according to the Utah Department of Health.
More than 66% of all ICU beds are now occupied in the state, and more than half of non-ICU beds are occupied.
UDOH reports the patient who died was a Salt Lake County man between the ages of 45 – 64 who was not hospitalized at the time of death, and it’s unknown if he was a resident of a long-term care facility.
The state’s overall rate of positive tests remains at 6.2%. A total of 312,054 tests have been issued.
Utah also reported on Thursday that 8,379 COVID-19 cases (43.2% of all cases) are in Hispanic or Latino Utahns. The Hispanic or Latino community makes up 14.2% of the state’s population.
There have been 6,661 cases (34.4% of all cases) reported in white, non Hispanic or Latino residents, who make up 78% of the state’s population.
Both state leaders and health officials have strongly urged Utahns to wear a face coverings while out in public when social distancing is not possible. Along with good hand hygiene and social distancing, cloth face coverings are one of the best ways to keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others.
Face coverings are important since many people may have the virus and not know it.
“While people who are sick or know that they have COVID-19 should isolate at home, COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That’s why it’s important for everyone to practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people) and wear cloth face coverings in public settings. Cloth face coverings provide an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people.”