24 More Have Died From COVID-19 With Christmas Just Days Away

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With just days before Christmas, the Utah Department of Health reported 2,612 more Utahns have tested positive for COVID-19 and 24 more have died because of the virus.

To date, 1,196  Utahns have been killed by COVID-19.

Health officials have urged residents to keep holiday gatherings between those within a single household this year to prevent a surge in new cases that could lead to overwhelmed hospitals – and more deaths.

Leaders have previously expressed optimism at Utahns’ ability to keep celebrations small this year. Before the Thanksgiving holiday, authorities had predicted a dramatic spike in new cases. However, because many residents of the Beehive State had adhered to health care officials’ advice, the forecasted surge did not come.

Doctors have said they don’t want people to become complacent and ignore safety protocols – even with the vaccine now available to health care workers.

On Wednesday, UDOH reported 560 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases.

So far, 11,380 vaccinations have been administered.

Testing

Officials reported a total of 1,666,879 Utahns have been tested so far, which is an increase of 9,601 tests from Tuesday.

Of those, 257,697 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. That’s and increase of 2,612 cases from yesterday’s report.

The rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 2,419 per day, and the rolling seven-day average for percent of positive tests is 23.7%.

Hospitalizations

There are currently 560 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 198 of those patients are in intensive care units. Another 55 people are hospitalized with suspected cases of COVID-19.

Utah’s ICUs are 89.6% full, which is just above the state’s threshold for quality care (85%).

The ICU beds at the referral centers are 92% full.

Referral Centers are the 16 hospitals in Utah with the capability to provide the best care for patients with COVID-19. Because most patients are transferred to these facilities, their utilization is the best reflection of the true hospital capacity in Utah when looking at ICU beds.

Deaths

Twenty-four more Utahns have lost their lives as a direct result of COVID-19. The state’s pandemic death toll now stands at 1,196.

The following individuals’ deaths were reported Wednesday:

14 Women:

• between 65-84, Utah County resident, long-term care facility resident
• older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Utah County resident, long-term care facility resident
• older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
• older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
• older than 85, Weber County resident, long-term care facility resident
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 45-64, Tooele County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Morgan County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Sanpete County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 45-64, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death

10 Men:

• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• older than 85, Davis County resident, long-term care facility resident
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• older than 85, Weber County resident, long-term care facility resident
• between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• between 45-64, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death

Vaccinations

A total of 11,380 vaccines have been administered so far.

For more information, visit coronavirus.utah.gov.