Summit County reported it’s worst single day for new COVID-19 infections on Friday, recording 51 cases. Friday was the first time the county has seen over 50 cases in a day.
Summit County’s previous record was 46 cases on November 5th. The county had not reported more than 40 cases since then.
Friday’s number of 51 new cases is alarming in that it could be indicative of a feared post-Thanksgiving surge as many families gathered for the holiday last week.
One week ago, Summit County reported only 19 new cases.
Governor Gary Herbert said in a weekly COVID-19 briefing on Thursday that some increase in cases was expected after the holiday, but the extent and severity of the spike is not known and likely won’t be known until sometime next week.
Wasatch County had an alarming day of their own this week with 72 cases on Wednesday, but only recorded 39 cases on Friday.
Summit County has seen a steady rise in their cases per 100,000 people since a Thanksgiving lull, now at 121.62. One week ago, the number was just over 50.
Statewide, the Utah Department of Health reported 3,005 new infections. The state’s rolling seven-day average of positive tests is now at 2,728 per day. The seven-day average of positive laboratory tests has climbed to 25.2% -- the highest since the pandemic began.
587 Utahns are currently hospitalized with the disease and COVID-19 referral center ICU beds are now 89.7% full. All ICU beds in the state are at 85.9% capacity.
The Health Department also recorded eight additional deaths on Friday, bringing the state’s death toll to 925. The victims included five men and three women, all over the age of 45 and all were hospitalized or at a long-term care facility at the time of their death. None of the deaths were from either Summit or Wasatch County.
Governor Herbert said on Thursday the statewide mask order will remain in place until further notice. Virtually all of the state is considered a high transmission area by the Health Department and social gatherings are strongly recommended to be under 10 people.
