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SALT LAKE CITY – Utah health officials reported on Saturday that 603 Utahns were currently hospitalized with COVID-19 – a record number since the start of the pandemic.
3,674 new cases of coronavirus have also been reported, along with 14 additional deaths.
As the Hive State continues to see an increase in cases and hospitalizations, Utah Senator Mitt Romney has said he is looking forward to getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
“I will receive the vaccine as soon as I can get it,” he told Deseret News on Friday.
Since he and his wife, Ann, are over 70, the 73-year-old Republican said they would likely be in one of the first groups to take the hit. But he said he didn’t know members of Congress would get the vaccine any faster than other Americans.
“We don’t have a special line we’re on. We’re on the same line as everyone else,” Romney said, adding he would get the vaccine in Utah when his doctors tell him he’s qualified to receive it.
“I can tell you I can’t wait to have it. I can’t wait to get rid of my masks. I can’t wait to be able to fly without wearing a helmet, ”he said.
Romney flies wearing a full face “super mask” made by Provo-based MicroClimate. The fabric scarf with a plastic face shield is equipped with HEPA filters and two powerful fans to keep the fresh air inside.
Romney said he was also looking forward to being with his grandchildren. He said one of his son’s children had all had COVID-19 and was able to reunite with them. He said he sees his other grandchildren outside wearing masks and social distancing.
This week, Utah health officials urged residents not to gather for the upcoming holiday celebrations. The effects of Thanksgiving on state numbers are not yet fully visible, officials said.
New cases, deaths
Saturday’s cases were confirmed from 14,838 people tested, with a positive rate of 24.8%, according to the Utah Department of Health. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 2,958 per day and the average positive test rate is 25.5%.
Intensive care units statewide were 88.9% full overall, and referral intensive care units capable of handling severe cases were 92.7% full.
The deaths reported on Saturday bring the state’s death toll to 939.
In Salt Lake County, the deaths included: four women aged 65 to 84, two of whom were hospitalized and two who were long-term care residents; a woman over 85 who was also a long-term care resident; and a man over 85 and a man between 65 and 84, long-term care residents.
The deaths in Utah County were two women aged 65 to 84, a woman over 85, a man between 45 and 64 and a man over 85, all long-term care residents .
A Washington County woman between the ages of 65 and 84 has died while in hospital. A Weber County woman aged 65 to 84, who was a long-term care resident, also died.
To date, 212,844 cases have been confirmed out of 1,485,811 people tested since the start of the pandemic, with a positive rate of 14.3%. It is estimated that about 150,000 cases have recovered after surviving three weeks after their diagnosis. Nearly 8,800 cases have required hospitalization for the disease in Utah since the start of the pandemic.
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