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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases rose by 314 Wednesday, with three more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department received 3,194 lab tests Tuesday but said that several testing locations in northern Utah were closed as a result of the high-level wind storm that swept across the Wasatch Front. Those closures may result in lower test numbers for several days of reporting, department of health spokesperson Tom Hudachko said.
Utah has reported 698,541 tests since March, with an overall positive test rate of 12.5%. The state’s rolling seven-day average includes 404 cases per day and a 9.1% positive test rate.
The state estimates 47,048 of the 55,673 total positive cases to be recovered. The state considers a case "recovered" after three weeks from the diagnosis date without a death.
The three new deaths reported Wednesday, which bring the total to 427 since the pandemic began, are:
- A man from Salt Lake County who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and a resident of a long-term care facility
- A man from Salt Lake County who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized
- A woman from Washington County who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized
The state reported that 116 people were hospitalized Tuesday due with COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 3,263 hospitalizations over the course of the pandemic.
There is no coronavirus response press conference from Gov. Gary Herbert or state officials scheduled on Wednesday.
Daggett County reports first COVID-19 case
On Wednesday, the TriCounty Health Department announced the first case of COVID-19 in Daggett County.
The woman who tested positive is between the age of 25-44 and health officials said she contracted it through community spread, meaning there was no link to other confirmed cases.
The health department reminded residents Wednesday to continue socially distancing and wearing a mask when in public. To date, the tri-county area has reported 223 COVID-19 cases.
Daggett County is one of 11 counties in Utah who have the lowest levels of restrictions, or are in the green risk phase.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah's outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district's website.
Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the "Data Notes" section at the bottom of the page.
