727 New COVID-19 Cases, 1 New Death, 198 Currently Hospitalized, Authorities Say
Jul 17, 2020, 1:01 PM | Updated: 1:23 pm
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Health reported 727 new COVID-19 cases in the state and one new death.
The rolling seven day average for positive tests per day is 599, or 10.3% of those tested, according to UDOH.
ICU bed occupancy across the state ticked up slightly to 70.5%, while non ICU hospital beds are at 54.7% occupancy.
Mark Briesacher, chief physician executive at Intermountain Healthcare, said during a virtual press conference on July 10 that he and other health care leaders are concerned about ICU capacity.
“Once you get to 80 – 85% (occupancy), that’s when the pressure and stress begins to occur,” he said. “You always want to keep a bed open for the next person who’s really sick. They’re sick from a heart attack, they’re sick because they’ve had a stroke, they’re critically ill because they were in a motor vehicle accident.”
“Once you get to 80 – 85%, you are full,” he reiterated. “And we are approaching that.”
Briesacher also noted that even if more beds were made available in overflow spaces or pop-up hospitals, it wouldn’t increase the amount of trained medical personnel to treat the patients.
“Beds don’t treat people,” Briesacher said. “People treat people.”
Currently, there are 198 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 96 of which are in intensive care units. There are also 58 patients currently hospitalized as COVID-19 persons under investigation.
There have been 32,572 total confirmed cases, 1,984 hospitalizations and 235 deaths in Utah so far. On Friday, authorities reported the death of a Weber County man between the ages of 65 – 84 who was hospitalized at the time of death.
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, go to TestingUtah.com to schedule a test, or contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth service 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.