Utah exceeds half a million coronavirus cases since pandemic began

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There have been more than 500,000 cases of the coronavirus in Utah since the start of the pandemic, the Utah Department of Health said on Friday.

There were 1,672 new cases reported in the past day, bringing the total number of cases registered statewide to 500,698.

Utah hospital intensive care units are at 91% of capacity. At Intermountain Healthcare, that number is between 97 and 100 percent, according to Brandon Webb, an infectious disease physician.

Between 80 and 85% of all COVID-19 patients admitted to Intermountain hospitals are not vaccinated, Webb said. More than 90% of COVID-19 patients in Intermountain intensive care units are not vaccinated, as are more than 90% of patients on ventilators.

Over 90% of Intermountain patients who die from COVID-19 are also unvaccinated, Webb said.

“We are not sharing these numbers in any way to shame the vaccine,” Webb said. “But, at the same time, we want people to have the right information.”

There have been 16,237 breakthrough infections in Utah to date – less than 1% of fully vaccinated people have tested positive for the coronavirus. In younger, healthier patients with breakthrough infections, symptoms are usually “much less severe,” Webb said. Even among patients who are older or with co-morbidities, “we are seeing a huge protective benefit from vaccination,” said Webb.

Fully vaccinated patients with a breakthrough infection are 70 to 80% less likely to be hospitalized. And those who are hospitalized are 70 to 80% less likely to be placed on a ventilator or die from COVID-19.

“It’s really important to understand that vaccines are still effective in preventing transmission. They remain protective against symptomatic illnesses, ”said Webb. “But, more importantly, these are the most effective ways to prevent hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and death.”

The Utah Department of Health reported nine more deaths from COVID-19 on Friday. Four of those who died were under 65.

School-aged children accounted for 21% of new coronavirus cases, the state’s health department said – a total of 358. There have been 148 cases in children aged 5 to 10; 96 cases in children from 11 to 13 years old; and 114 cases in children aged 14-18.

The seven-day moving average for positive tests is 1390 per day.

In the past four weeks, unvaccinated Utahns were 5.3 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those vaccinated, according to an analysis from the state’s health department. The unvaccinated were also 7.6 times more likely to be hospitalized and 6.5 times more likely to test positive for the coronavirus.

An additional 3,011 Utahns were fully vaccinated in the last day, bringing the total to 1,669,819, or 51% of Utah’s total population.

Vaccine doses administered during the last day / total doses administered • 5,159 / 3,416,501.

Fully vaccinated utahns • 1,669,819.

Cases reported in the last day • 1,672.

Deaths reported in the past day • Nine.

There have been four deaths in Salt Lake County – one man and woman aged 45 to 64 and two women aged 65 to 84.

Utah County has reported two deaths – both men aged 45 to 64.

A Duchesne County woman aged 65 to 84, an Iron County woman aged 65 to 84, and a Washington County man aged 65 to 84 also died.

Tests reported the day before • 10,009 people were tested for the first time. A total of 18,359 people were tested.

Hospitalizations reported in the last day • 587. This is 25 more than what was reported on Thursday. Of those currently hospitalized, 226 are in intensive care, three more than reported on Thursday.

Percentage of positive tests • According to the original state method, the rate is 16.7% in the last day. This is more than the seven-day average of 13.6%.

The state’s new method counts all test results, including repeat testing of the same individual. The rate reported Thursday was 9.9%, the same as the seven-day average.

[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]

Totals to date • 500,698 cases; 2,869 deaths; 21,749 hospitalizations; 3,404,589 people tested.

Summit County instituted an ordinance that would require masks in middle and high schools in the area in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. It reflects an order for county elementary schools and does not include secondary schools.

County health director Dr Phil Bondurant has issued the order, which will require face coverings if 2% of students, teachers and staff at a school test positive for the coronavirus during a two week period. It goes into effect Monday and runs until the end of the year – the same as the decree for elementary schools.

“This ordinance provides another mitigation strategy intended to keep our schools open, limit the impact of potential outbreaks, and avoid testing protocols to stay until vaccines are available later this fall,” a said Bondurant.