Wednesday’s COVID-19 report from the Utah Department of Health indicated declining averages for several key metrics used to track the disease in the state.
The 2,009 new positive COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday further drove down statewide averages for positive tests and the percentage of positive tests -- both numbers are a good indication of how rapidly the disease is spreading in Utah.
Wednesday's seven-day average of positive tests of 1,758 and average for the percent of positive lab tests of 18.4% are the lowest statewide averages seen since the week of Halloween last year.
Although statewide averages and hospitalizations have declined in recent weeks, statewide ICU capacity has stayed largely at or above the 85% threshold since early November 2020. Hospitals consider 85% ICU bed occupancy to be effectively full once patient and staff rotations, as well as PPP and sanitation protocols are factored in. There were several days in the past months where ICU capacity was measured at over 100%.
As of Wednesday, the Health Department says 452 Utahns are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and referral center ICU beds are at 88.9% capacity.
Summit County reported 39 new COVID-19 cases and Wasatch County reported 32. Both counties are seeing declines in their averages for case counts and positive tests as well, but the average of positive tests in both counties is currently above the statewide average, with Summit County at 19.8% and Wasatch County at 24.9%.
The Health Department also announced seven new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide COVID-19 death toll to 1,620. None of Wednesday’s deaths were from either Summit or Wasatch County.
Utah topped a quarter-million doses of vaccine administered on Wednesday as well, reporting 250,448. Of that total, just over 37,000 people have received their second and final dose.