Deseret News: COVID-19 deaths top 400 in Utah; cases reach 50,000
Students tout masks during briefing that notes state moving in right direction on infection rates
By Wendy Leonard@wendyleonards Aug 26, 2020
Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health, listens to Gov. Gary Herbert during a COVID-19 briefing at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Steve Griffin, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has topped 50,000 in Utah.
An additional 407 new cases reported by the Utah Department of Health on Wednesday brings the total number of known cases to 50,174. Thus far, 401 Utahns have died in the pandemic, including four new deaths reported Wednesday.
Previous backlogs in testing results were fixed in Wednesday’s reports, as well, showing that more than 637,329 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Utah since the pandemic hit the state in mid-March, including an additional 6,730 tests that were reported on Wednesday.
“We have the capacity in the state to test anybody who needs it,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the health department, during a Wednesday press conference at the Capitol.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive tests is 376 per day, with a positivity rate of 8.6%, which is the lowest it has been in a while.
“We are certainly heading in the right direction,” Dunn said. “We are doing a better job of controlling the spread of COVID-19.”
Every person who contracts COVID-19 in Utah, she said, spreads it to less than one other person, which is showing that the virus is coming under control, or, is “certainly on the right route.”
“We need to stay committed to doing what we know works,” Dunn said, which includes wearing a mask, maintaining proper social distances and staying home when sick.
New deaths due to COVID-19 in Utah include a Davis County man, between the age of 25 and 44; a Salt Lake County man between ages 60 and 84, who was a resident at a long-term health care facility; a Utah County man between age 45 and 64, who was a resident of a long-term care facility; and a Wasatch County man older than 85, who was also a resident of a long-term care facility.
Salt Lake County, where the majority of the state’s population lives and works, continues to have the highest number of cases in the state, but officials have said the wearing of masks has helped slow the spread of disease.
The county reported Tuesday there has been at least a 96% compliance rate where masks in public are concerned in Salt Lake County based on observations conducted earlier in the month. About 8% of people wearing masks in public were observed to be wearing them incorrectly, which can be problematic, said David Schuld, who is heading up the county’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
Face coverings are an effective tool when worn effectively, he said, noting that the county’s case rate peaked within two weeks of officials mandating masks and hospitalizations also continue to decrease.
“We all need to be proud of what progress we have made,” Dunn said.
Fewer daily cases are being reported, including a lower percent positivity rating, and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are also down in Utah — 100 fewer people are occupying hospital beds than was the case at the beginning of August, she said.
There are currently 118 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah. The health department reports that 2,996 people have been hospitalized since the beginning of the disease outbreak.
“People’s behaviors are changing,” Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said. “It’s really about how people act. You can make it happen by government fiat ... or people will do the right thing for the right reasons.”
He said more people are wearing masks statewide because they realize it keeps them safe and their neighbors and family safe, as well.
Students can handle it
Students at Enterprise High School in Washington School District appeared during the live video conference from their school to say that they’d rather wear masks than stay at home.
“It’s understandable that people have opinions ... but our school year is being threatened,” said senior Dallee Cobb. “We want to be here. We want to stay.”
She said that like her peers, she’s not a fan of wearing a mask, but they understand it is necessary in order to be able to participate in school, extracurricular activities and be around their friends.
“School is more than just education,” Cobb said, adding that she learns about herself by interacting with others. “Having it in person is really important.”
Tami Pyfer, the governor’s education adviser, said schools reopening this week and last didn’t happen without challenges. But, teachers, parents, students and staff are showing a willingness to be flexible and adapt as needed.
She said extra focus was placed on social and emotional learning in schools even before the pandemic took hold in Utah.
“Little did we know at the time how important that would be,” Pyfer said.
So many kids, Dawson Thelin, another senior at Enterprise High, said, feel safe at school.
“It’s better than being at home or having to be stuck at home,” he said. “We just want to be able to enjoy our school.”
Helping those who are hurt
A new fundraising effort to help Salt Lake City residents impacted by the virus was announced by Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall on Wednesday. She hopes the Raise Up Salt Lake City campaign will net $1 million.
“There are people in our city struggling to get by during this pandemic, and who were not eligible for the federal stimulus,” Mendenhall said. “Salt Lake City wants to help them.”
An initial $50,000 was donated by the Muslim World League with the assistance of the World Trade Center Utah, as Salt Lake City was one of eight cities and two states selected by the nonprofit Accelerator for America to receive technical assistance and funding to set up and administer financial assistance programs for residents whose livelihoods have been hit by COVID-19.
The fundraiser will transition to a donation and distribution model, offering $500 to selected people and families in need.
“When we act collaboratively as a community, we can create true impact,” said Alex Eaton, CEO at the Community Foundation of Utah, which will manage donation and distribution through community partners.
For more information, or to donate, visit raiseupslc.com or text “GiveSLC” to 21000.
The latest breakdown of Utah cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:
Salt Lake County, 23,186; 1,509 hospitalized; 227 deaths.
Utah County, 10,435; 489 hospitalized; 46 deaths.
Davis County, 3,708; 209 hospitalized; 23 deaths.
Southwest Utah, 3,504; 204 hospitalized; 27 deaths.
Weber-Morgan, 3,223; 207 hospitalized; 29 deaths.
Bear River (Box Elder, Cache, Rich), 2,510; 128 hospitalized; 9 deaths.
Summit County, 828; 53 hospitalized; 1 death.
San Juan County, 663; 88 hospitalized; 28 deaths.
Tooele County, 663; 33 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
Wasatch County, 624; 25 hospitalized; 6 deaths.
Central Utah, 494; 28 hospitalized; 3 deaths.
TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 201; 17 hospitalized; 1 death.
Southeast Utah, 135; 6 hospitalized; 1 death.
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