Utah Ends 2020 With 4,672 Additional Residents Testing Positive For COVID
Dec 31, 2020, 12:59 PM | Updated: 1:32 pm
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah health officials reported 13 more Utahns have died from COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll from the virus in 2020 to 1,269.
Additionally, 4,672 more people have tested positive for the virus, according to the latest report.
“Today’s case counts are a sobering reminder that we are still in this battle,” according to a statement from the Utah Department of Health. “With schools and universities set to reopen in the coming weeks, each of us must do our part now to ensure schools can operate smoothly.”
UDOH urged those who traveled over the holidays or visited with people outside their immediate households to assume they may have been exposed and to limit interactions with others.
Those Utahns are also urged to get tested if they’re experiencing any symptoms and to stay home until the test results are known.
“If your test result is negative, keep limiting your interactions with others for a full 10 days after your travel or visit,” according to UDOH. “If you test positive, isolate at home for at least 10 days from symptom onset or the day you were tested. Doing so can help protect our already strained hospitals and healthcare workers in the coming days and weeks.”
UDOH will not be releasing its daily COVID-19 report on Jan. 1 in observance of New Years Day.
Testing
UDOH has reported 1,726,003 Utahns were tested for COVID-19 in the year 2020. That is an increase of 11,412 people tested from Wednesday’s numbers.
So far, 276,612 Utahns have tested positive for the virus, which is an increase of 4,672 cases from yesterday’s report.
The rolling seven day average for positive tests is 2,288 per day. The rolling seven-day average for percent of positive laboratory tests has increased to 25.6%.
Hospitalizations
There are currently 510 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 158 of those people are in intensive care units. Another 55 patients are hospitalized with suspected cases of COVID-19.
Utah’s functional capacity for its ICUs is 85%. As of Thursday, ICU beds in the state’s hospitals were 83.2%.
The ICU bed occupancy in the state’s referral centers, which had been below the threshold for quality care for several days, was back above functional capacity again Thursday. UDOH reports those intensive care units are now 87% 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
Another 13 Utahns have lost their lives to COVID-19. In 2020, a total of 1,269 of the state’s residents have died as a direct result of the virus.
The following individuals’ deaths were reported Thursday:
- Female, older than 85, Weber County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Washington County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Weber County resident, long-term care facility resident
- Male, older than 85, Salt Lake County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Davis County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 25-44, Weber County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, older than 85, Tooele County resident, long-term care facility resident
- Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, older than 85, Utah County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
Vaccinations
Utah has now administered 30,200 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The vaccine has brought hope of brighter days ahead, but until every Utahn has the chance to be immunized, we must continue to make small sacrifices now,” according to UDOH. “Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth anytime you are in public or around someone you don’t live with. Physical distance as much as possible. Only gather with the people you live with. Wash your hands often. And stay home if you are sick, test positive, or have been exposed to COVID-19.”
For more information, visit coronavirus.utah.gov.