Four of the eight Utah COVID-19 deaths reported today were under age 45

Aug 4, 2021, 7:33 PM

FILE: Medical staffers Christopher Peter (R) and Paul Truna check on the comfort of a patient wearing a helmet-based ventilator in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at the United Memorial Medical Center on November 29, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

(Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

BY SIMONE SEIKALY

Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — Among the eight COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday by the Utah Department of Health was a young man between the ages of 15 and 24.

There were also three people, a woman and two men, between the ages of 25 and 44.

In other words, a full half of the reported deaths from COVID-19 in Utah today involved people under the age of 45.

And while it is not known if these patients contracted the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, it is known that the delta variant accounts for 83% of new COVID-19 cases in Utah.

COVID-19 cases and deaths in Utah

The Utah Department of Health reported 1,050 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, for a total of 436,487 since the pandemic began.

Related: ICUs are “at or beyond functional capacity” with new COVID cases

Of the 6,999 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah on Tuesday, 15%, or 1,050 tested positive.

Currently, the seven-day average of positive tests in Utah is 907 per day, according to health department figures.

388 people currently require hospitalization for COVID-19 in Utah. 166 of those patients require care in the intensive care unit, or ICU.

The state reported a total of eight new deaths Wednesday, for a total of 2,479 since the pandemic began. The victims include a young male, between the ages of 15 and 24, from Weber County, hospitalized at the time of his death; a woman from Cache County between the ages of 25 and 44, not hospitalized at the time of her death; one man from Utah County between the ages of 25 and 44, hospitalized at the time of his death, a man from Weber County between the ages of 25 and 44, hospitalized at the time of his death; two women from Salt Lake County between the ages of 45 and 64, one of whom was hospitalized and one of whom was not; a man from Weber County between the ages of 65 and 84 who lived in a long-term care facility; and another man from Weber County, over the age of 85, who also lived in a long-term care facility.

Vaccinations continue to climb

Utah health officials reported 8,379 vaccines administered yesterday, for a total of 3,050,326 since vaccinations began.

Thus far, 1,491,534 Utahns are fully vaccinated, and 1,689,715 have received at least one dose of vaccine.

That means about 52.7% of all Utahns have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and about 46.5% of all Utahns are fully vaccinated.

Currently, children under the age of 12 cannot receive the vaccine.

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.