Utah records over 3,500 new Covid cases

Positive cases in Summit County this year. Photo: Summit County Health Department

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported 3,563 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

The positivity rate for those tested is currently 12.4%.

It’s the second day in a row with over 3,000 cases reported statewide. Yesterday, 3,303 new cases were announced, the highest mark since January.

The Summit County Health Department reported 80 new cases on Thursday, 49 of those cases were unvaccinated individuals, with the other 31 being vaccinated. The county set a new daily record this week with 137 cases recorded on Monday.

“Vaccines (especially boosters) remain the best way to protest against all variants,” Gov. Spencer Cox said in a tweet. He declared that “Omicron has arrived.”

🧵After weeks of steady declines in cases and hospitalizations caused by the Delta variant, Omicron has arrived. As expected, case numbers are increasing exponentially as this variant is far more contagious. Fortunately we know much more than we did just a couple weeks ago. 1/

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) December 30, 2021

Over 1,200 flights were canceled in the US on Thursday.

Cases will not be reported again until Monday, due to the New Year’s holiday.