CORONAVIRUS
17 More Utahns Have Died From COVID-19; Highest Number Of Reported Deaths So Far
Nov 6, 2020, 1:36 PM | Updated: Nov 7, 2020, 12:34 pm
FILE (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah’s COVID-19 cases have continued to climb – and so have the reported deaths.
According to the Utah Department of Health, an additional 17 of the state’s residents died as a result of the virus. It’s the highest reported death toll so far.
That brings the total number of Utahns who have died from COVID-19 to 649.
A record 2,987 Utahns have tested positive for the virus Currently, 395 people with COVID-19 are being treated in Utah hospitals – another record.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert released a statement Friday afternoon in response to the record spread and deaths attributed to the virus.
“The numbers being reported today are exactly what we’ve been warning Utah residents about for weeks. They are why we’ve implored Utahns to adopt the behaviors that could have prevented us from reaching this point. COVID-19 is spreading rampantly and uncontrolled in our communities,” Herbert said. “Getting ahead of this trend will become more and more difficult with every passing day. In the coming days I will be announcing additional policies designed to address this ongoing surge.”
Details about the additional policies were not available.
Virus Spreading Mostly Within Households
Health officials report a large portion of virus spread is coming from known contacts, which account for 68.7% of the infection sources. Of the reported exposures, 36.1% are potentially from within a household. Another 11% of potential exposures are coming from social gatherings, while 9.4% are potentially coming the workplace.
These numbers are crucial to keep in mind with the onset of colder weather, as more people will be spending time indoors.
With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve also on the horizon, more Utahns are likely to be spending time with family and friends in social gatherings. Health officials have said residents need to be washing their hands often and staying away from gatherings if they’re sick. And, of course, everyone is encouraged to wear a mask when social distancing is not an option.
National, Global Numbers Increase
The latest numbers from the World Health Organization indicated over 48.5 million confirmed cases and more than 1.2 million deaths across the globe.
Utah Testing
On Friday, the Utah Department of Health reported 127,279 Utahns have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. That’s an increase of 2,987 cases from Thursday’s report.
To date, 1,136,826 residents have been tested, and that’s an increase of 11,220 from yesterday.
The rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 2,033 – the first time the average has topped 2,000 in the state’s preliminary report. The rolling seven-day average for percent of positive laboratory tests is 19.7%.
Utah Hospitalizations
The rate of hospitalizations has steadily increased over the past week, with 395 people with COVID-19 currently being treated in Utah’s hospitals. Of those, 167 are in intensive care units.
Friday’s report states that 55% of the state’s non-ICU beds and 75.6% of all ICU beds are occupied.
Utah Deaths
A total of 649 Utahns have lost their lives as a direct result of COVID-19. The department of health reported the following 17 residents have died:
- Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, between 65-84, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 45-64, Tooele County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
- Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, long-term care facility resident
- Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, between 65-84, Washington County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Female, older than 85, Juab 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
- Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident
- Male, between 65-84, Washington County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, between 25-44, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death
- Male, older than 85, Weber County resident, not hospitalized at time of death
“I want to emphasize that COVID is not a hoax,” Gov. Gary Herbert said during a Thursday news conference. “This is a serious ailment and virus that is getting people sick. COVID is something to be concerned about. If you’re sick, don’t go to work. You should social distance and make sure you’re not in close proximity to others who might have the virus. Wash your hands often. Make sure you have good hygiene and don’t spread the virus yourself. When you cannot social distance, you should absolutely wear a mask.”
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.
What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy: ksltv.com/432037/what-is-covid-19/
Latest coronavirus stories from KSL can be found at staging.ksltv.com/coronavirus/.
Where in the world has the coronavirus already appeared? See the map: staging.ksltv.com/?p=432035
Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus: staging.ksltv.com/?p=432060
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 is not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.
