SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Health has released Sunday’s coronavirus data, marking more than 600 new cases and three new deaths at the end of the deadliest week of the pandemic.
There were 629 new cases reported, bringing the statewide total to 29,484 lab-confirmed cases.
The state also confirmed three new deaths, bringing the total to 212.
According to the numbers, with 31 deaths, the week of July 6 through July 12 has been the deadliest since the onset of the pandemic in mid-March. More than 4,500 new cases were accounted for during that same time period.
“I don’t like seeing the numbers,” said Salt Lake resident Nicole Sherman.
“Seeing that Utah was on the same list as Texas and Florida… and I mean yeah, we’re doing better but we’re gradually going up because a lot of measures are still not in place,” said Kate Sharkova, another Salt Lake resident.
Based on the upward trend in cases, both Sharkova and Sherman said they had low expectations for lower numbers in the near future.
“It’s probably going to be even worse next week,” Sharkova said, citing the Fourth of July holiday.
Still, both residents are hoping more will be done to help slow the spread.
“I’m wearing my mask, but any other initiatives, or what we can be doing to help, I’d appreciate in trying to do my part,” Sherman said.
“Close churches, close bars. They’re not closed yet, I don’t understand why,” Sharkova said. “You can pray at home and you can drink at home.”
At a news conference Thursday, Gov. Gary Herbert said he would not mandate masks statewide. However, they will be required in schools this fall.
