596 New COVID-19 Cases, 5 New Deaths, 24 More Hospitalizations Ahead Of Holiday Weekend
Jul 3, 2020, 12:42 PM | Updated: 12:59 pm
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Health on Friday reported five more people have died from COVID-19, 596 new cases have been confirmed and 24 more Utahns have been hospitalized.
The report comes as the Independence Day holiday weekend is beginning. Utah saw a surge in new coronavirus cases following the Memorial Day weekend in May, when the state set a then-new record for confirmed cases in a single day. The case count has only increased since then, with several spikes in the ensuing weeks.
The overall rate of positives is at 6.7% of those tested. The state has issued 356,636 tests so far.
UDOH reported the most recent deaths as:
- Male, between 65-84, Summit County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 25-44, Weber County resident, long term care facility resident
- Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long term care facility resident
- Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long term care facility resident
- Female, between 65-84, Washington County resident, long term care facility resident
There have been 23,866 positive cases, 1,529 hospitalizations and 181 deaths so far in Utah.
Currently, there are 186 COVID-19 cases hospitalized. Of those, 85 patients are in ICU beds. There are also 46 patients currently hospitalized as COVID-19 persons under investigation.
Health officials report that 52.4% of all non ICU beds and 64.8% of all ICU beds are currently occupied.
“We had a #COVID19 surge after Memorial Day,” state epidemiologist tweeted Thursday. “Our hospitals can’t handle another one.”
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.
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.