Utah Reports 843 COVID-19 Cases, 6 Additional Deaths

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health on Wednesday said six more Utahns have died due to COVID-19 while 843 residents tested positive for the virus.

Currently, 350 Utahns are hospitalized due to the virus — among the state’s highest numbers since mid-February — and the ICUs at Utah’s 16 referral center hospitals were 86.1% full on Wednesday — just above the state’s utilization threshold of 85%.

“Seventy-two percent use among all hospitals and 77% in referral center hospitals creates major strains on the health care system. When 85% capacity is reached, Utah will be functionally out of staffed ICU beds, indicating an overwhelmed hospital system,” UDOH said.

The state’s seven-day rolling average of new cases has more than tripled since June 1, jumping from 200 to 649 on Wednesday.

An additional 6,578 vaccine doses have been administered since Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 3,001,472.

To date, we've administered 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in Utah! That's an increase of 157,526 in the past month. Join more than 1.6 million Utahns who are doing their part to end the pandemic. Find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you https://t.co/5zIYKbKMs7 pic.twitter.com/UZnPoQVB46

— State of Utah COVID-19 Response (@UtahCoronavirus) July 28, 2021

UDOH said over 1.47 million Utahns are now fully vaccinated and over 1.65 million have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

State health officials also released the following statement:

“We have the tool to end the disruption and inconveniences of COVID-19 on our lives and the economy – vaccination. More than 186 million Americans have chosen to get vaccinated under the most intense safety monitoring in history. In Utah, more than 1.6 million Utahns have had at least one dose and 1.4 million are fully vaccinated. Nearly all COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are now among those who have chosen to not get vaccinated.

Studies from across the globe continue to show the vaccines work. They are safe and effective. Serious side effects are rare. The benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of getting the vaccine AND getting COVID-19 as a disease. Vaccination is a safer, more effective, and longer lasting way to build immunity, including for those who have already been diagnosed with COVID. Vaccination is key to keeping our children in school and free from the disruptions to their learning and extracurricular activities that we experienced last school year. Choosing to get vaccinated will protect your family, our schools and communities.

We ask all Utahns to carefully consider getting vaccinated and to seek out credible information about the vaccines from their healthcare provider and reputable health organizations. Vaccinations are FREE and available to anyone 12 and older. There are hundreds of vaccine providers across the state. More information can be found at coronavirus.utah.gov.”

Testing

UDOH reports 2,904,382 people have been tested — 6,834 more than Tuesday. Of those, 430,143 Utahns have tested positive for COVID-19 — an increase of 843 new cases.

The rolling seven-day average for positive tests was 649 — up from 643 on Friday and 622 last Wednesday. On June 1, Utah’s rolling seven-day average was 200 cases.

The rolling seven-day average for percent positivity of “people over people” dipped slightly to 14.4% while the rolling seven-day average for percent positivity of “tests over tests” remained at 10.2%.

Vaccinations

The state has administered 3,001,472 vaccine doses in total, which is an increase of 6,578 over Tuesday’s numbers.

As of Wednesday, over 1.65 million Utahns had received at least one dose of a vaccine and over 1.47 million Utahns had been fully vaccinated.

Over 3.35 million vaccines have been delivered to Utah.

Hospitalizations

Currently, 350 people are hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 157 of those people were in intensive care units.

Utah’s ICUs were 82.4% full and the ICU beds in Utah’s referral centers were 86.1% full Wednesday — just above the state’s threshold of 85%.

“At about 69% overall ICU utilization, ICUs in Utah’s major hospitals with the ability to provide best care for COVID-19 patients begin to reach staffing capacity,” UDOH officials said. “Seventy-two percent use among all hospitals and 77% in referral center hospitals creates major strains on the health care system. When 85% capacity is reached, Utah will be functionally out of staffed ICU beds, indicating an overwhelmed hospital system.”

Deaths

To date, the virus has killed 2,447 of the state’s residents. The following deaths were reported Wednesday:

• Female, between 65-84, Kane County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• Male, between 65-84, Uintah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• Female, between 45-64, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death
• Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
• Male, between 65-84, Uintah County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
• Female, between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death

Nationwide Numbers

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Coronavirus Resources

Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.

Click here to sign up for a vaccine and here to see how Utah’s vaccine rollout is progressing.

The latest COVID-19 stories from KSL can be found here.

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.

The CDC recommends unvaccinated Americans should continue wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).