Utah has its single highest daily COVID-19 case count ever
Jan 5, 2022, 1:17 PM | Updated: 1:26 pm
FILE: Long COVID-19 testing line stretching along Pioneer Road towards Draper Senior Center on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 in Draper. More than a 100 cars waiting over three hours were seen at the testing site. Photo: Shafkat Anowar, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — On Wednesday, Utah Department of Health reported the highest daily COVID-19 case count the state has ever seen by nearly double.
UDOH reported 7,247 cases. The department put the number in context by saying the number of cases from Jan. 5 is more than the total number of cases reported over the first 68 days of the pandemic combined.
They added, Utah could possibly continue to see numbers as high as Wednesday’s over the course of the few weeks.
The agency reported 495 Utahns are currently hospitalized for COVID-19. Those currently hospitalized is a smaller percentage of the total amount of new cases than during other periods of the pandemic. However, another 44 Utahns died as the result of coronavirus.
COVID-19 and school-age children
Utah health officials said of the 973 new cases, 361 occurred among school-age children. Broken down, there were 193 new cases among children ages 5 – 10, 193 new cases among children ages 11 – 13, and 419 new cases among teens ages 14 – 17.
Vaccines and risk assessment
12,143 more Utahns received the COVID-19 vaccine in the latest UDOH numbers. To date, health officials in the state have administered 4,589,082 vaccine doses.
According to the health department, for the last 28 days, the risk of coming down with COVID-19 is 16.8 times greater for unvaccinated Utahns. For hospitalization, the risk to the unvaccinated is 9.2 times greater than that of vaccinated Utahns. And health officials report unvaccinated Utahns face 2.7 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 4,317 per day.
Health officials report an increase of 37,578 Utahns tested for COVID-19 since the day before. Those who got tested over the last few days have waited in lines at some centers for multiple hours.
The rolling 7-day average of people testing positive in Utah is 22.9%%, and the rolling 7-day average of total positive test results is 15.5%.
Contributing: Jessica Lowell
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.
Local resources
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization
