The number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in the state. The Utah Department of Health on Wednesday said there are now 346 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah. The department will provide another daily update at 1 p.m. Thursday, which will include reports of two new cases in the Southwest Utah Public Health Department areas of Washington and Iron counties.
The state reported a 42% spike on Monday. Wednesday’s number, not including the two new Southwest Utah cases, is about a 16% increase in new confirmed cases. Health officials expect more positive tests as the state increases testing availability this week. Over 6,800 people have been tested in Utah so far. The state now has the ability to test more than 2,000 people per day.
Salt Lake and Summit counties have the most COVID-19 cases in the state. Central Utah, San Juan, Southeast Utah and TriCounty- which includes Duchesne, Daggett and Uintah Counties have yet to report a confirmed case. Six cases have been confirmed in Cache County.
Even as Utah's cases have slowed down in recent days, state health officials says they are still preparing for a possibility of larger increases in the near future. That could also mean an uptick in COVID-19-related hospitalizations.