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Number of new COVID-19 cases falls back below 1,000

Utah reports 21 more coronavirus deaths, however.

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The Utah Department of Health reported fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases in the state on Friday — considerably fewer, at 857.

The state also reported 21 more deaths, although 19 of those occurred before Feb. 1 and were only recently confirmed as being related to COVID-19. All 21 were age 65 or older, and six were 85 or older.

Vaccinations reported in past day/total vaccinations • 16,443 / 580,051.

Number of Utahns who have received two doses • 188,985.

Cases reported in past day • 857.

Deaths reported in past day • 21.

Utah County reported six deaths — four women between the ages of 65 and 84, and a man and a woman 85 or older.

There were three deaths in Salt Lake County — a man and a woman 65 to 84, and a man 85-plus.

Davis County also reported three deaths — two men 65 to 84 and a woman 85 or older.

And there were three deaths in Washington County — two men 65 to 84 and a woman 85-plus.

Weber County reported two deaths — both men 65-84.

Four counties each reported a single death — a woman 85-plus in Box Elder County, a man 65 to 84 in Cache County, a man 85-plus in Iron County, and a woman 85-plus in Tooele County.

Hospitalizations reported in past day • 255. That’s down three from Thursday. Of those currently hospitalized, 103 are in intensive care units — two fewer than on Thursday.

Tests reported in past day • 6,535 people were tested for the first time. A total of 17,996 people were tested.

Percentage of positive tests • Under the state’s original method, the rate is 13.1%. That’s slightly lower than the seven-day average of 13.6%.

Its new method counts all test results, including repeated tests of the same individual. Friday’s rate is now at 4.8%, lower than the seven-day average of 6.21%.

[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]

Totals to date • 365,256 cases; 1,834 deaths; 14,382 hospitalizations; 2,151,244 people tested.