Utah closed out 2020 with the highest single day number of new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, tallying nearly 4,700 new infections.
New Year’s Eve’s 4,672 new cases were a sobering reminder that amid all of the good news of vaccines over the holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much a part of everyday life.
Over 40% of Thursday’s statewide laboratory tests came back positive for the virus, the first indication of what could be a feared post-Christmas surge.
Thursday’s numbers from the Utah Department of Health began with a recommendation that if you traveled over the holidays or spent time with people outside of your immediate household, assume you have been exposed and limit your interactions with others.
The Health Department asks anyone with symptoms -- even mild ones -- to get tested immediately and stay home until your results come back.
The Health Department says even with a negative test, individuals should still keep their social interactions to a minimum for at least 10 days after the onset of their symptoms.
The statewide rolling seven-day average for positive tests is now 2,288 per day and the rolling seven-day average for positive laboratory tests is up to 25.6%.
Summit County also set another record on Thursday, recording their single highest day of the pandemic with 62 new cases. Wasatch County recorded 38.
Across Utah, there are 510 people currently hospitalized with the disease and COVID-19 referral center ICUs are 87% full.
The Health Department also reported 13 additional deaths on Thursday, including a man between the ages of 25 and 44, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,269. None of Thursday’s deaths were from either Summit or Wasatch Counties.
Utah’s vaccination rollout continued as well with over 30,000 doses administered as of New Year’s Eve. The Health Department said at a press conference on Wednesday the rollout has been slower than they want, but are confident the issues will be resolved once supply chain difficulties between the states and the Federal Government are resolved.
The Health Department is not releasing data on Friday in observance of New Year’s Day.
