Utah Reports 2 Days Of COVID-19 Numbers: 15 More Have Died, 6,142 Test Positive

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Health on Friday reported 6,142 Utahns have tested positive for COVID-19, and an additional 15 of the state’s residents have died as a result of the virus.

The health department didn’t issue its daily report on Thanksgiving Day, so Friday’s numbers represent two days’ worth of cases and deaths.

According to health officials, 3,829 positive cases were reported Thursday and 2,313 were reported Friday.

Currently, 569 people with COVID-19 are being treated in Utah hospitals.

Testing

UDOH reports that 1,404,641 Utahns have been tested for the virus so far. That’s an increase of 23,644 tests since Wednesday.

Of those, a total of 190,044 have tests positive for COVID-19. That’s an increase of 6,142 cases since Wednesday.

The rolling seven-day average for positive tests has dropped to 2,764 per day. The rolling seven-day average for percent of positive tests has also decreased to 21.3%.

Hospitalizations

Currently, 569 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, and 205 of those are in intensive care units. Another 17 people are currently hospitalized with suspected cases of COVID-19.

The state’s ICU occupancy has once again risen above the threshold for quality care to 87.9%. The ICU beds in Utah’s 16 hospitals best equipped to care for COVID-19 patients are now 91% full.

UDOH reports Utah’s non-ICU beds are 53.8% full.

On Wednesday, Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, an Intermountain Healthcare infectious diseases physician, released a blog article about hospital capacity.

“Right now, many ICUs in the state are running at over 90% full, and based on what we know about positive test rates, they’re about to get busier,” Stenehjem.

He goes on to write that every day is getting worse and that, unfortunately, patient care is being affected.

“The care that hospitals are providing right now is not the same care as it was four weeks ago,” Stenehjem wrote. “Caregivers from other sections of the hospital are providing ICU care right now. And while they are dedicated and skilled, they don’t have the same training and expertise as members of the critical care team.”

During a press conference the same day, Stenehjem said they are expecting a surge in patients through at least early December. He also gave more insights into the situation inside Utah hospitals.

“Here at Intermountain Medical Center, our two standard intensive care units are absolutely full of COVID patients and we’ve had to expand ICU capacity into non-traditional ICU floors,” he said.

Stenehjem said hospitalizations lag about 10 to 14 days behind cases being identified.

Deaths

Authorities reported an additional 15 people have died as a result of COVID-19, which brings Utah’s death toll to 849.

The following individual’s deaths were reported Friday:

1. Male, between 65-84, Box Elder County resident, hospitalized at time of death
2. Male, older than 85, Cache County resident, long-term care facility resident
3. Male, between 65-84, Carbon County resident, hospitalized at time of death
4. Male, between 65-84, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death
5. Male, between 25-44, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death
6. Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
7. Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
8. Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
9. Male, between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
10. Male, between 65-84, Sevier County resident, unknown if hospitalized at time of death
11. Male, between 65-84, Summit County resident, hospitalized at time of death
12. Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
13. Female, between 65-84, Washington County resident, hospitalized at time of death
14. Male, between 65-84, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death
15. Male, between 45-64, Weber County resident, not hospitalized at time of death

For more information, visit coronavirus.utah.gov.