Another COVID-19 case count record set in Utah: 12,990 in a single day

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported a new record high of 12,990 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, for a total of 739,206 since the pandemic began. 

In addition, the agency reported 638 Utahns required hospitalization for COVID-19 on Thursday. Another 7 Utahns died as the result of coronavirus, ranging in age from 25 to over 85. 

Utah, a COVID-19 record and the state’s school-age children

Utah health officials said of the record-high 12,990 new cases, 3,007 occurred among school-age children. Broken down, there were 797 new cases among children ages 5 – 10, 659 new cases among children ages 11 – 13, and 1,551 new cases among teens ages 14 – 17. 

Related: State leaders in letter to schools: here’s how to go remote without “Test to Stay”

Vaccines and risk assessment 

12,214 more Utahns received the COVID-19 vaccine in the latest UDOH numbers. To date, health officials in the state have administered 4,684,561 vaccine doses. That includes both second doses of initial vaccination rounds and booster shots for those fully vaccinated. 

According to the health department, for the last 28 days, the risk of coming down with COVID-19 is 2.3 times greater for unvaccinated Utahns. For hospitalization, the risk to the unvaccinated is 6.7 times greater than that of vaccinated Utahns. And health officials report unvaccinated Utahns face 15.2 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 9,564 per day. 

Health officials report an increase of 25,650 Utahns tested for COVID-19 since the day before and an increase of 47,418 tests performed. 

That means the rolling 7-day average of people testing positive in Utah is 36.5%, and the rolling 7-day average of total positive test results is 25.2%. These percentages also reflect record trends for Utah as a whole. 

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How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus (updated Jan. 2022)

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

• Get vaccinated. Already vaccinated? Obtain your booster shot.
• Wear a mask. Here are the current CDC recommendations (as of Jan. 12, 2022):
  • Unvaccinated people aged 2 years and older should wear a face covering when indoors.
  • When outdoors, masks are generally not needed unless you are in a crowded setting.
  • Even if they are vaccinated, people with weakened immune systems may still be at risk and should wear a mask indoors.
  • Masks should be worn indoors in public in high transmission areas.
  • Federal regulations require travelers to wear masks that cover your nose and mouth on planes, busses, trains, and other public transportation when traveling into, within, or out of the United States.
• Stay six feet away from others (social distancing) especially if you are at high risk.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Testing. There are several types of tests for you to use if you suspect you are sick. These include viral and antibody tests, conducted by others or by you in your home (self-tests). 
  • If you test positive, you should isolate. The CDC now recommends a five-day isolation period, followed by five days of mask-wearing when around others.

Local resources

Utah’s Coronavirus Information 

Utah State Board of Education

Utah Hospital Association

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

Cases in the United States

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