HEALTH

More than 200 people are in the ICU with COVID-19 in Utah

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 AT 1:37 PM

Healthcare workers care for a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. (Intermountain Healthcare)

BY BECKY BRUCE
News Director

SALT LAKE CITY — Hospitalizations remain high for COVID-19 in Utah, with more than 550 people currently hospitalized and more than 200 of those in the ICU.

Hospitalization, ICU stays for COVID-19 stay high in Utah

The Utah Department of Health reported 1,598 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, for a total of 499,026 since the pandemic began.

In addition, the agency reported 562Utahns required hospitalization for COVID-19 on Thursday. 223 of those patients required intensive care treatment.

Another 19 Utahns died as the result of coronavirus, though four of those deaths occurred before Sept. 1.

Utah health officials said of the 1,598 new cases, 371 occurred among school-age children. Broken down, there were 147 new cases among children ages 5 – 10, 76 new cases among children ages 11 – 13, and 148 new cases among teens ages 14 – 17.

Vaccines and risk assessment

5,826 more Utahns received the COVID-19 vaccine in the latest UDOH numbers. To date, health officials in the state have administered 3,411,342 vaccine doses.

According to the health department, for the last 28 days, the risk of coming down with COVID-19 is 6.5 times greater for unvaccinated Utahns. For hospitalization, the risk to the unvaccinated is 7.1 times greater than that of vaccinated Utahns. And health officials report unvaccinated Utahns face 5.2 times greater risk of death than vaccinated Utahns.

Rolling averages and trends

According to UDOH, the rolling 7-day average for positive COVID-19 tests in Utah is 1,401 per day.

Health officials report an increase of 11,908 Utahns tested for COVID-19 since the day before, and an increase of 20,466 tests performed.

That means the rolling 7-day average of people testing positive in Utah is 13.6%, and the rolling 7-day average of total positive test results is 9.9%.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Wear a mask to protect yourself and others per CDC recommendations.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet).
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities).
Obtain a flu shot.
Seek out the COVID-19 vaccine.