SALT LAKE CITY — Over the past two days, there’s been 6,142 new COVID-19 cases and 15 additional deaths in Utah, state health officials reported Friday.
The Utah Department of Health, which did not update case counts Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday, said there were 3,829 new cases Thursday and another 2,313 as of Friday. All of the deaths were reported as of Thursday.
An additional 23,644 people have been tested, with nearly all testing locations closed on Thursday.
The holiday’s impact on the spread of the virus in Utah remains to be seen, Earlier this week, Gov. Gary Herbert lifted a two-week old ban on casual social gatherings between members of separate households but urged caution.
It will take a while for the effect of such gatherings to show up, state health department spokeswoman Charla Haley said.
“The incubation period for COVID-19 can be anywhere from two days to 14 days, with the average being five or six days after exposure. It will most likely be a week to 10 days before Utah starts seeing the impact Thanksgiving holiday celebrations will have on our COVID-19 cases,” Haley said.
The rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 2,764 per day, and the rolling seven-day average for positive laboratory tests is 21.3%. There are currently 569 people hospitalized with the novel coronavirus, with total hospitalizations since the outbreak began in March closing in on 8,000.
“Because testing sites were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday and some have reduced hours through the weekend, it’s anticipated we will see lower testing numbers over the next few days,” she said. “It generally takes several days between the time a test is taken to receiving lab confirmations.”
So far, there has been a total of 849 deaths from COVID-19 in Utah. The 15 new deaths reported Friday include:
- Male, between 65-84, Box Elder County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, older than 85, Cache County resident, long-term care facility resident.
- Male, between 65-84, Carbon County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 25-44, Davis County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident.
- Male, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, long-term care facility resident.
- Female, between 65-84, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 45-64, Salt Lake County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Sevier County resident, unknown if hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Summit County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Utah County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Female, between 65-84, Washington County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 65-84, Weber County resident, hospitalized at time of death.
- Male, between 45-64, Weber County resident, not hospitalized at time of death.