SALT LAKE CITY — As household spread of COVID-19 cases continues to account for more cases in the state than any other known source, state health officials are urging Utahns to work to prevent transmission in their homes.
As of Sunday, 17,931 of the state’s 46,652 confirmed cases since the pandemic began were transmitted between family members or roommates, according to data from the Utah Department of Health. That compares to just 5,159 cases known to have spread through social interactions, and 2,352 through workplaces.
State officials and others have warned that large households are especially at risk of outbreaks.
“If there’s someone vulnerable in your household, all family members should take extra precautions to avoid exposure to COVID-19. If possible, those at high risk should avoid caring for children. Sick family members should be separated from the higher risk person. All family members should wear face masks in public, keep physical distance in public and wash their hands whenever they return home,” state health department officials said Friday on Facebook.
Officials also caution people to “avoid hugging and kissing for now,” and not share food or drinks.
Utah health officials reported 331 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths on Sunday.
The additional cases were confirmed out of 3,626 tests, a 9.1% positive rate, according to the Utah Department of Health. They bring the state’s total since the pandemic began to 46,652 confirmed cases of 598,527 people tested, an overall positive rate of 7.8%.
The rolling seven-day average for new cases is 357 per day, and the average positive test rate is 9.5%. Utah’s hospitalizations due to the coronavirus continue to fall, as currently 164 patients are hospitalized with the novel coronavirus, three fewer than on Saturday. The state’s intensive care units — which have about 600 beds overall — are 66.7% full with coronavirus patients and others, while other hospital beds are 49.6% full.
Utah’s death toll stands at 363 as no additional deaths were confirmed Sunday.
About 37,700 of the state’s cases are considered recovered after surviving the three-week point since their diagnoses.
The latest breakdown of Utah cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:
- Salt Lake County, 21,771; 1,413 hospitalized; 211 deaths.
- Utah County, 9,398; 435 hospitalized; 38 deaths.
- Davis County, 3,414; 193 hospitalized; 21 deaths.
- Southwest Utah, 3,321; 186 hospitalized; 26 deaths.
- Weber-Morgan, 2,992; 189 hospitalized; 25 deaths.
- Bear River (Box Elder, Cache, Rich), 2,393; 115 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
- Summit County, 733; 53 hospitalized; 1 death.
- San Juan County, 653; 87 hospitalized; 26 deaths.
- Tooele County, 618; 30 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- Wasatch County, 598; 23 hospitalized; 4 deaths.
- Central Utah, 454; 26 hospitalized; 3 deaths.
- TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 190; 14 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- Southeast Utah, 117; 7 hospitalized; 1 death.