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While the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in Utah went up Sunday from the day before, a look at the figures from the past week suggest some reason for cautious optimism.
For instance, the rolling seven-day average of new cases reported Sunday by the Utah Department of Health was 1,794. A week ago, it was 2,548.
The number of people hospitalized Sunday due to COVID-19 was at 461. The week prior, it was 557. The number of coronavirus patients occupying ICU beds was down by more than 40, and the percentage of ICU beds occupied declined from 97.4% to 88.7%.
Meanwhile, the rolling seven-day percentage of positive tests is also down from the previous week. On Sunday, it stood at 19.4%. The week before, it was at 22.6%.
It’s not all good news, however — there were still 102 coronavirus-related deaths in Utah over the past seven days.
Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center reports that we are approaching 100 million global cases of COVID-19. More than 25 million of those have been in the United States alone. There are now more than 2,125,000 deaths worldwide — led by more than 418,000 in the United States.
Here’s a closer look at the Sunday numbers released by the UDOH:
Vaccinations reported in past day/total vaccinations • 6,073 / 228,348.
Cases reported in past day • 1,516, which is 255 fewer than Saturday.
Deaths reported in past day • 13, though UDOH noted that four of them occurred prior to Dec. 31, 2020.
Five of them were Utah County residents: A male between 25-44 years old, three males between 65-84, and a female 85 or older.
Four came from Salt Lake County: A male between 45-64, one male and one female 65-84, and one male older than 85.
Washington County’s two were both female, one of them between 65-84, the other 85 or older. Weber County also had a female between 65-84, while Uintah County had a male between 65-84.
Hospitalizations reported in past day • 461. That’s down 20 from Saturday’s numbers. Of those currently hospitalized, 182 are in intensive care units — 14 fewer than announced Saturday.
Tests reported in past day • 7,331.
Percentage of positive tests • 20.7%. This is higher than the seven-day average of 19.4%.
Totals to date • 336,405 cases; 1,595 deaths; 13,016 hospitalizations; 1,965,485 tests.
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