2 more Utah inmates die as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge

2 more Utah inmates die as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Two more Utah inmates have died after testing positive for COVID-19. Prison officials said Friday that makes a total of six inmates who have died throughout the pandemic, and there are 780 active cases in the Utah prison system. In Utah, 1 in 141 people was diagnosed with the virus in the past week. The state is ranked ninth in the country for new cases per capita. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that there are only 45 open ICU beds throughout the entire state. The increased number of hospitalizations has prompted doctors and public health officials to advise against attending large Thanksgiving gatherings.