Utah COVID-19 update: 2,152 new cases and 556,463 total cases

Nov 3, 2021, 3:35 PM | Updated: 3:38 pm

STOCK PHOTO: mutli-colored Coronavirus models Photo: Canva

Former Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — In its latest Utah COVID-19 update, the Utah Department of Health reported 2,152 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Nov. 3, which increases the total number of Utahns becoming sick with the virus to 556,463 since the pandemic began.

In addition, the agency reported 554 Utahns required hospitalization for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Another 14 Utahns have died since the day before as the result of coronavirus. On Sunday evening, a Unified Firefighter, Captain Merrill Bone, passed away from complications with the virus.

UDOH graphs show trends of hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths since March of 2021.

COVID-19 hospitalizations by admission date Graph: CoronavirusUtah.gov

COVID-19 deaths by the date of death. Graph: CoronavirusUtah.gov

Utah COVID-19 update: Transmission levels by county

As of November 3, the following Utah counties are currently considered to be in the “high level” of transmission:

Beaver
Box Elder
Cache
Carbon
Davis
Duchesne
Emery
Garfield
Grand
Iron
Juab
Kane
Millard
Morgan
Piute
Rich
Salt Lake
San Juan
Sanpete
Sevier
Summit
Tooele
Uintah
Utah
Wasatch
Washington
Weber

COVID-19 transmission rates by Utah county Graph: utah.coronavirus.gov

Utah COVID-19 update: School-age children

Utah doctors say that, with the arrival of the Delta variant of COVID-19, the number of children testing positive is on the rise. Of the 2,152 new cases reported on Wednesday, 429 occurred among school-age children. Broken down, there were 203 new cases among children ages 5 through 10, 117 new cases among children ages 11 through 13, and 109 new cases among teens ages 14 through 17.

As reported by the Associated Press, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the unanimous approval of a kid-sized Pfizer dose by an advisory panel on Tuesday. The final signoff by health officials opens up access to the vaccine to 28 million children ages 5 through 11.

Vaccines and risk assessment

New vaccination regulations are surfacing nationally as well as on a global basis. And Utahns continue to seek out the vaccine, too. Since Tuesday, Nov. 2, 12,366 additional Utahns received the COVID-19 vaccine. To date, health officials in the state have administered 3,783,453 vaccine doses.

According to the health department, for the last 28 days, the risk of coming down with COVID-19 is 3.6 times greater for unvaccinated Utahns. For hospitalization, the risk to the unvaccinated is 7.2 times greater than that of vaccinated Utahns. And health officials report unvaccinated Utahns face 8.6 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 1,469 per day.

Health officials report an increase of 11,493 Utahns tested for COVID-19 since the day before, increasing the total number of tests performed to 3,734,619.

That means the rolling 7-day average of people testing positive in Utah is 17.7%, and the rolling 7-day average of total positive test results is 11.6%.

Graph shows the cumulative COVID-19 cases with estimated recoveries. (Does not include the day the article was posted). Graph: CoronavirusUtah.gov

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.