Utah records 3rd day in a row of over 1,000 new virus cases

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) - An increase in Utah COVID-19 cases continued Saturday with another 1,068 reported infections - making it the eighth day case numbers have jumped above 1,000 in the last two weeks.

It's also the third day in a row of daily case counts topping 1,000, with 1,107 cases Friday and 1,008 on Thursday, according to the Utah Department of Health.

State health officials are cautioning that with every increase a wave of hospitalizations and deaths will follow, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Two more residents died from the virus, officials said Saturday.

The latest deaths were a man, between the ages of 65 and 84, in Wasatch County and another man, older than 85, in Juab County. Both lived in long-term care facilities. At least 476 people have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, officials said.

Schools statewide saw an additional 102 cases reported Saturday for a total of 2,603 cases since most reopened in August. So far, 363 teachers have gotten the virus, the health department reported.

And at least 10 schools have shut down for two weeks and moved instruction online because of outbreaks.