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One in 5 of Utah’s COVID-19 deaths has happened since the beginning of 2021

With two more deaths reported Monday, the January death toll is more than 20% of the state’s pandemic total.

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Utah reported two more coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, bringing the total to 97 in the past seven days.

The number of new cases reported by the Utah Department of Health on Monday was relatively low compared to recent days, dipping under 1,000, but so were the number of those tested on a snowy Sunday. The positivity rate was slightly above 20%, and the death toll has risen at an accelerated pace in recent weeks.

It’s been just over 10 months since the first COVID-19 death was reported in Utah. More than 1 in 5 of the 1,597 deaths in the state has been recorded since the beginning of 2021. With a week remaining in January, there have been 328 deaths — 20.5% of the state’s total.

Vaccinations reported in past day/total vaccinations • 1,227 / 229,575.

Cases reported in past day • 859.

Deaths reported in past day • 2.

Both were Utah County residents — a woman age 45 to 64, and a man 65 to 84.

Hospitalizations reported in past day • 459. That’s down two from Sunday. Of those currently hospitalized, 179 are in intensive care units — three fewer than on Sunday.

Tests reported in past day • 4,174.

Percentage of positive tests • 20.6%. This is higher than the seven-day average of 19.2%.

Totals to date • 337,264 cases; 1,597 deaths; 13,054 hospitalizations; 1,969,659 tests.