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Utah coronavirus cases, hospitalizations decrease

The Department of Health and Human Services releases updated COVID-19 metrics each week.

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune) Based on state data typically released each Thursday, The Salt Lake Tribune created three graphs to visualize the latest on COVID-19 case counts, hospitalizations and deaths in Utah.

The most recent state health data shared March 23 shows decreasing COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations.

Most counties are still showing “low” community COVID-19 transmission levels, based on a current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of positive case counts. Two counties — Piute and San Juan — have “medium” transmission levels.

Understand the latest Utah COVID-19 trends with these graphs from The Salt Lake Tribune, based on the latest state data:

Current sewage data shows elevated amounts of coronavirus in 16 of the 34 sites across the state as of March 23, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Out of the state’s 34 sites, 13 reported enough of the virus that they are on “watch” status, meaning there’s a possibility that those sites could see elevated levels soon.

Overall, wastewater trend analyses indicate the amount of COVID-19 has plateaued at 26 sites. Three sites reported decreasing trends of the virus, while five sites — near Vernal, Park City, West Jordan, Spanish Fork and Moab — reported increasing trends.

Breakdown of updated COVID-19 metrics in Utah, as of March 23:

Vaccine doses administered in the past week/total doses administered • 3,249 / 5,919,550.

Number of Utahns fully vaccinated • 2,080,829 people — or about 64% of Utah’s total population — have received both doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Another 485,091 Utahns have received a bivalent booster dose after completing a primary vaccine series — or 14.9% of the population.

Cases reported in the past week • 1,063.

Average cases per day reported in the past week • 153.

Deaths reported in the past week • Seven.

Salt Lake County reported the deaths of four women, one age 45-64, another age 65-84 and two ages 85 or older.

Kane and Weber counties each reported the death of woman age 65-84. Utah County reported the death of a man age 45-64.

Hospitalizations reported this week • As of Thursday, 82 Utahns were hospitalized with COVID-19 — six fewer than the previous week. There were 16 patients in intensive care Thursday, six more than reported last Thursday.

The seven-day average for people hospitalized with COVID-19 decreased from 90 to 83. The seven-day average for new hospital admissions decreased about 12% to 14

Percentage of positive tests • As of March 14, when the states changed its “communicable disease rule,” DHHS stopped reporting this information.

“This changed the reportability of COVID-19 testing, specifically removing negative reporting for a large portion of tests. Due to this change percent positivity will no longer be updated,” according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Totals to date • 1,092,722 cases; 5,316 deaths; 42,494 hospitalizations.

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