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In a week when Utah saw its first vaccine distributions and highest single-day death record, the state capped off the past seven days with 1,994 new cases and seven more deaths on Sunday, as reported by the Utah Department of Health.
An additional 8,663 people were tested since Saturday, which brings the state’s rolling seven-day average for percent of positive tests to 22.76% — a slight increase over the past couple of days. Utah has averaged 2,442 new cases per day over the past seven days.
The state, however, did see some positive news on Sunday. The percent of all occupied intensive care unit beds statewide is 94.8%, or 509 of 537 beds filled. It is a nearly 5% drop, or 25 less beds filled, than a day prior.
Earlier this week, with COVID-19 on top of typical care needs, University of Utah Health’s ICUs hit a point earlier where “we couldn’t admit anybody, and that lasted for several hours” before beds opened up as some patients left or were transferred, said assistant chief medical officer Dr. Kencee Graves.
While the 25-44 age group currently has the highest percentage of cases in the state (36%), the 15-24 age group has the highest care rate. Approximately 12 of every 100 people in that age group have contracted the virus.
The state is waiting to receive 16,575 vaccine doses next week — about a 30% reduction of the 23,400 doses health officials were planning for. A total of 3,648 people have received the vaccine in Utah, which is the same as reported on Saturday.
The seven deaths reported on Sunday include:
• Two Salt Lake County residents, one man and one woman, between the ages 65 and 84.
• An Iron County man, between age 65 and 84.
• A Morgan County woman, between age 65 and 84.
• A Sanpete County man, between age 45 and 64.
• A Utah County woman, between age 65 and 84.
• A Washington County man, between age 65 and 84.
On Friday, the state reported a single-day record of 30 deaths. Utah’s total death toll from the coronavirus stood at 1,155 on Sunday.
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