SALT LAKE CITY-Wednesday, Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn spoke to the Utah media during the weekly briefing at the Utah State capitol building.
The daily COVID-19 stats for Utah featured 10,497 cases for COVID-19 in the Beehive State as of Wednesday’s totals. This is an increase of 295 cases in the past 24 hours and a net increase of 92 cases.
There are 223,981 tests for COVID-19 in Utah that have been administered. This is an increase of 2,190 tests in the past 24 hours. This increased the net overall positive test percentage in Utah to 4.68 percent. In the past 24 hours, this increased to a positive test percentage of 13.47 percent.
Presently, 6,618 Utahns have recovered from COVID-19 in the Beehive State, a net increase of 186 in the past 24 hours. This keeps the overall recovery percentage at 63.04 percent.
There have been 829 hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Utah in the past 24 hours. This is an increase of 28 from Tuesday-Wednesday. However, there are presently only 108 hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Utah. This caused the current percentage of those hospitalized to drop to 13 percent.
There have now been 117 deaths in Utah from COVID-19, an increase of four in the past 24 hours. Dunn said these deaths were all males in Salt Lake County, three of those deaths occurred in long-term healthcare facilities and one had underlying medical conditions.
In Wasatch County, thanks to the contributions of Wasatch County Health Department media relations coordinator Trudy Brereton, we can now tell you that of the county’s 305 cases of COVID-19, roughly 176 of them have recovered, or 57.7 percent of those in the county who have suffered from the virus. There remain 14 hospitalizations and two deaths in Wasatch County from COVID-19. The most recent death occurred May 31.
Brereton also reports that free testing for COVID-19 in the Heber Valley is available Thursday from 4:00-8:00 pm at Heber Valley Elementary, located at 730 S. 600 West in Heber City with a mobile testing unit.
Those who desire testing do not have to be symptomatic. Insurance is not required, but those attending should bring insurance if they have it.
No picture ID is required.
Brereton confirms that cases in Wasatch County primarily stem from localized outbreaks and households with multiple positive cases.
Brereton also said there is a high number of cases among Latinos in the community.
We again thank Brereton and the Wasatch County Health Department for their invaluable assistance in taking care of things in the Heber Valley.
Meanwhile, Dunn continued, saying, that an increase in cases has been experienced in the Beehive State.
She exhorts anyone who feels as if they have any symptoms to contact their doctor to see if they need to be tested.
Because of the outbreak that is occurring in the Beehive State, Dunn also cautions anyone who is feeling sick to stay home. She suggested that “community spread” of the virus is percolating because restrictions have been loosened and the economy is being reopened.
Dunn ultimately said the decision to move to green in Utah ultimately rests on Gov. Gary Herbert’s shoulders.
It is anticipated that with the expiration for yellow (low-risk) in Utah, slated to occur Friday, that this decision will be made by then.
