SALT LAKE CITY-Wednesday, Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Angela C. Dunn again addressed the media at the State Capitol Building to share the latest information on COVID-19.
As of Wednesday, there are 6,620 positive tests for COVID-19 in the Beehive State. This is an increase of 118 net positive cases in Utah in the past 24 hours, as there were 188 positive tests from Tuesday-Wednesday.
There have now been 156,786 total tests for COVID-19 administered in Utah. This means the overall positive test percentage in the Beehive State is 4.22 percent at this stage, a slight increase from Tuesday’s percentage which was 4.19 percent.
In the past 24 hours, 3,301 tests were administered for COVID-19. With 188 testing positive, this means 5.7 percent of Utahns tested for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours tested positive.
There are presently 553 hospitalizations in Utah, an increase of 18 from Tuesday’s totals. Two new deaths have also occurred in the Beehive State, bringing the fatality total to 75.
In Wasatch County, there are now 185 positive tests for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. This is an increase of one from Tuesday’s totals. There remain only 8 hospitalizations and one death (April 10) from COVID-19 in Wasatch County.
Dunn confirmed that both of the deaths occurred at long-term healthcare facilities and each of them were in Salt Lake County.
When asked by the media about what is required for certain sections of Utah to get to yellow, she said policies may change for certain areas.
She was also asked, in this vein of thought, about schools possibly being allowed to reopen in certain areas if they are allowed to shift to yellow. Dunn said reopening schools may prove to be a separate decision based on the prerogative of local jurisdictions.
Dunn said Utah is at a lower risk because of the young population that the Beehive State is comprised of as well as the state’s ability to take care of long-term healthcare facilities.
She confirmed Utah’s testing capacity and contact tracing methods have been instrumental in keeping numbers low.
She said that tracing is important because this assists medical personnel in adeptly identifying “hot spots.”
Dunn continued, saying “from a public health perspective, the No. 1 priority is “keeping everyone safe.”
Dunn said until a vaccine exists for COVID-19, people have to be “vigilant.”
In this vein of thought, Dunn suggested, in closing, that our current state may be “the new normal” for a little while.
