Utah’s new COVID-19 infections subside after record high as vaccination pace accelerates

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(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) North Davis / EMT firefighter Ashley Shelton, right, shares a laugh with coworker Chris Belliston as the two receive the vaccine while on duty Wednesday. The Davis County Department of Health hosted a drive-thru vaccination for non-hospital healthcare workers and first responders at the Legacy Center in Farmington on December 30, 2020.

| January 2, 2021 at 9:37 pm

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The surge in coronavirus infections in Utah after the holidays showed signs of slowing down on Saturday with 5,042 more cases reported in the past two days, as the sluggishness of vaccinations continued to accelerate.

Still, the state’s seven-day average rose to 2,506 new positive test results per day, the Utah Department of Health reported on Saturday when it released figures for Saturday and the New Year’s vacation. An. That’s 218 more than the previous day’s seven-day average, an increase attributable to Thursday’s record day for new infections.

The pandemic has so far shortened the lives of 1,294 Utahns, with the state’s death toll from the coronavirus increasing by 25 deaths reported in the previous two days. The UDOH identified these most recent deaths, 12 men and 13 women, as follows:

• A woman from Box Elder County aged 65 to 84.

• Six Davis County residents, two aged 65 to 84, three over 85 and one aged 25 to 44

• A man from Duchesne County aged 65 to 84.

• Six residents of Salt Lake County, five aged 65 to 84 and one female over 85.

• Two residents of San Juan County, both aged 25 to 44.

• A man from Sanpete County aged 65 to 84.

• Two residents of Uintah County, a man aged 65 to 84 and a woman over 85.

• Two residents of Utah County, both over the age of 85.

Active hospitalizations fell on Saturday, from 510 to 487 admitted patients, UDOH reported.

The state processed 14,900 tests in the 48-hour period ending at noon Saturday. The positivity rate for tests over the past week has risen to 27.4%, indicating that many infections may go undetected.

The UDOH reported 16,174 additional vaccines distributed since Thursday’s report, bringing the total number of residents who received the vaccines to 46,374.

The Salt Lake Tribune will update this story.

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