SALT LAKE CITY-Wednesday, the latest COVID-19 statistics were released for the state of Utah by the Utah Department of Health.
Since statistics began being kept, there have been 18,784 cases recorded in the Beehive State. This represents an increase of 484 cases and a net increase of 90 cases in the past 24 hours.
Presently, there are 10,334 recovered cases of COVID-19 in Utah. This is an increase of 277 recoveries in the past 24 hours as well as net increase of 83 recoveries in the same span.
Recovered cases from COVID-19 in the Beehive State represent 55.01 percent of all COVID-19 cases that have occurred.
There are presently 8,287 active cases in Utah. This represents 207 new active cases in the past 24 hours and a net increase of 12 active cases in the same span. Active cases of COVID-19 in the Beehive State represent 44.11 percent of all COVID-19 cases that have occurred.
There have been 304,738 total tests for COVID-19 administered in Utah. This is a net increase of 2,462 cases in the past 24 hours. This caused the overall positive test percentage to rise to 6.16 percent.
Wednesday, the 24-hour positive test percentage skyrocketed to 19.65 percent. This is the highest 24-hour positive test percentage in state history.
There have been 1,256 hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Utah since statistics began being kept. There are presently 167 current hospitalizations in Utah for COVID-19. This is a net increase of one but the current hospitalization percentage fell to 13.29 percent.
Among current COVID-19 hospitalizations currently in ICU, this number remained stable at 77. This caused the current COVID-19 hospitalization percentage in ICU to drop to 46.1 percent. Tuesday, this number was at 46.3 percent.
With no new deaths in Utah attributed to COVID-19 Wednesday, the number remained stable at 163 deaths. This caused the death rate to plummet to 0.00867.
In Wasatch County, there has been an increase of two new cases for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. This brings the net total of COVID-19 cases in Wasatch County to 389 since records have been kept. The hospitalizations (19) and deaths (3) remain unchanged from the past 24 hours in Wasatch County. The most recent death occurred June 19.
Wednesday afternoon, there was also a coronavirus press briefing at the Utah State Capitol Building featuring Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and state epidemiologist Dr. Angela C. Dunn.
Dunn, while displeased with the acceleration of new COVID-19 cases in the Beehive State, said that community transition has stayed steady. Dunn reported it currently is at a ratio of 1.53.
In a memo, dating back to June 19, where Dunn expressed concern about the aforementioned acceleration, she clarified her comments saying that she has never called for a statewide shutdown.
Various Salt Lake City news outlets reported that this was the case but Dunn dispelled these notions with her Wednesday comments.
Herbert then stepped up to the podium, saying one of his senior staff members, whom he did not identify, had tested positive for COVID-19.
Herbert reported this person is “self-isolating” and was ensuring others on staff would be kept safe.
Herbert advocated that masks be worn in all circumstances that are “appropriate.”
Because of the rising cases, Herbert confirmed that no color coordination (based on his color wheel he unsheathed during Utah Leads Together 2.0) relaxation will not be considered until July 8.
His rationale for this is “if we don’t follow the guidelines, it’s not much worth.”
Herbert confirmed there will be an all-Spanish press conference concerning COVID-19 Thursday at the Utah State Capitol Building.
This is because, as studies have attested, Latinos have a higher risk of infection than others in the state.
Herbert said he may grant the petitions of Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall to make masks mandatory for all residents Thursday.
Herbert also confirmed that masks will be mandatory in all state-owned facilities. These include Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and state higher education and government buildings.
