The Utah Department of Health reported just over 2,600 new statewide COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
Utah has seen its seven-day average of positive laboratory tests jump over 10% since the middle of December, but was afforded a brief respite in the surge on Saturday. After climbing to nearly 33% just after New Years, the average saw a slight decline on Saturday, now at 32.6%.
With 2,613 new statewide cases on Saturday, the state’s seven-day average of positive tests is now 3,147 -- a new record bolstered by a day of over 4,600 cases on January 6th.
Wasatch County reported 43 new cases on Saturday, Summit County had not reported its data at the time of this report.
The Health Department says 535 people are currently hospitalized statewide as of Saturday, with referral center ICU beds now 92.8% full.
The state also reported 9 additional deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,390. None of Saturday’s deaths were from either Summit or Wasatch Counties.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced a new executive order on Friday, streamlining the state’s vaccination plan that included making school staff eligible for the vaccine starting the week of January 11th and Utahns over the age of 70 the following week.
In addition, facilities that receive doses of the vaccine must now use them within one week of receiving them.
As of Saturday, the Health Department is reporting 99,612 doses of the vaccine have been administered.
