14,754 new COVID-19 cases reported in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah — On Monday, Utah reported an astounding 14,754 new COVID-19 cases, with the data collected over the four-day holiday weekend amid a worldwide surge.

Officials also announced 17 new deaths related to COVID-19.

While no official cases were reported Friday because of the holiday, the Utah Department of Health estimated over 4,700 new COVID-19 would be confirmed, breaking the record of 4,706 cases set on Dec. 30, 2020. However, that number fell short.

The numbers reflect a tremendous surge in cases across the world arising from the omicron variant. While symptoms from the variant appear to be milder than previous variants, omicron has proven to be highly contagious.

According to the health department, 466 in Utah are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

The rolling 7-day average for positive tests is now at 3,346 per day. The rolling 7-day average for percent positivity of “people over people” is 15.6%. and the rolling 7-day average for percent positivity of “tests over tests” is 12.5%.

Among the new cases, school-aged children accounted for 1,764 of them, including 640 cases in children ages 5-10, 387 cases in children ages 11-13, and 737 cases in children ages 14-18.

“In the last 28 days, people who are unvaccinated are at 17.5 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19, 9.6 times greater risk of being hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 2.9 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than vaccinated people,” UDOH reports. “Since February 1, 2021, people who are unvaccinated are at 7.0 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19, 5.6 times greater risk of being hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 2.3 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than vaccinated people.”

With 17 additional deaths reported Monday, Utah’s death toll stands at 3,804