SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reports there are 676 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two new deaths since Thursday's update.
Friday's update represents the state's highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
"For the second time in a week, we are announcing our highest daily case count total. These cases affect ALL Utah residents. They have the potential to threaten our economy, and our ability to ensure people can receive the care they need in our hospitals," said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist for the Utah Department of Health. (Scroll down to read Dr. Dunn's full statement.)
Utah now has 20,050 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
317,568 people in Utah have been reported tested and 1,321 have been hospitalized. Of the 1,321 people in Utah who were hospitalized, 174 remain hospitalized.
A total of 166 people in Utah have died of COVID-19.
An estimated 11,097 of Utah's COVID-19 cases are considered "recovered." A person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and did not pass away after three weeks is considered recovered from the disease.
Statement from Dr. Angela Dunn:
For the second time in a week, we are announcing our highest daily case count total. These cases affect ALL Utah residents. They have the potential to threaten our economy, and our ability to ensure people can receive the care they need in our hospitals.
Each one of these cases represents a household that will now be required to quarantine. This means parents will be unable to go to work and children will be unable to see their friends. Each one of these cases inches us closer to maxing out our hospital capacity. If this happens, some Utahns who need hospital care may not be able to get it. And each one of these cases poses a clear and significant danger to somebody who falls into a high-risk category.
We need large-scale behavior change on the part of all Utahns to reverse this trend. Everyone, whether it's required in your county or not, needs to be wearing a mask in order to help protect those around you. Everyone should be practicing physical distancing, staying home if they're sick, and washing their hands regularly.