Utah to move from high- to moderate-risk for COVID-19

Health care workers test people for COVID-19 at Intermountain Healthcare’s mobile testing unit at Park City High School on Saturday, April 18, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Coronavirus death toll at 46 in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Many of the restrictions put in place due to pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus will be lifted at midnight Friday in Utah.

Gatherings will again be permitted up to 20 people, though social distancing is encouraged throughout the duration. Businesses will be allowed to open so long as they can maintain proper standards, according to state and local health department guidelines.

There will also be more opportunities to travel, carefully, said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

“We’re making progress. We’re moving forward,” he said during Thursday’s briefing at the Capitol. “We’ll get through this stabilization and soon into recovery.”

The Utah Department of Health reported 4,672 cases on Thursday, an increase of 177 over Wednesday. It also reported another death caused by the novel coronavirus — a 60-year-old Salt Lake County man unrelated to outbreaks at Utah’s long-term care facilities. It brings the state’s COVID-19-related death total to 46 since March 22.

Three hundred ninety people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah, according to the health department. And, more than 108,500 people have been tested at more than 50 locations throughout the state.

Officials believe a slight uptick in cases of COVID-19 may result from the newly eased restrictions, but, “this is no time for us to relax,” Herbert said.

“As we move to reopen parts of the economy and society, we’re relying on all Utahns to continue to adhere to social distancing standards whenever they can,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. “Everybody needs to take responsibility to prevent the spread.”

One of the major reasons Utah is ready to move from high-risk to moderate-risk of infection, she said, is the state’s increased testing capacity. Positive cases can be identified quickly and traced to effectively prevent further spread.

The health department plans to introduce strike teams of experts to handle outbreaks within communities, including mobile testing and investigation efforts, particularly in neighborhoods and communities in Salt Lake and Utah counties, where Dunn said “known hot spots” exist.

About 10% to 15% of COVID-19 cases in Utah can be attributed to community spread, where a contact point is not identified; whereas, the majority come from known contacts with the virus.

State officials have encouraged businesses and their patrons to continue to wear masks, which Dunn said “serve as an additional barrier when social distancing isn’t possible.”

“This is something everybody is going to have to figure out, the level of risk they want to take,” she said. “The risk is quite small at this point.”

Vulnerable populations — including people age 65 and older, as well as those with underlying conditions or already compromised immune systems — are encouraged to continue staying home to stay safe.

“I’m not overly concerned,” Herbert said. “I think people understand that for their own self interest, their health and the health of their loved ones and people they don’t know but still care about, they will do what is best. When it comes down to it, people are willing to do the right thing in the right way.”

Herbert on Thursday issued an executive order to extend overdue vehicle registrations until May 15, to help slow demand and alleviate crowding at Utah’s Department of Motor Vehicle offices. At least five offices along the Wasatch Front have already begun taking appointments for services, and others are offering limited drive-through services. Some services are still available and recommended to be done online, the governor said.

While he moved the status of the state from red to orange starting Friday, as described in his Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, Herbert, who was also wearing an orange tie, said the state has “a ways to go” before it reaches a stabilization phase.

“People of Utah have been diligent and dedicated,” he said. “Stay safe and stay strong.”

The breakdown of Utah COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:

• Salt Lake County, 2,438; 228 hospitalized; 29 deaths.
• Utah County, 957; 44 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
• Summit County, 369; 32 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Davis County, 285; 23 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 158; 19 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 148; 7 hospitalized; 1 death.
• Southwest Utah, 98; 12 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Tooele County, 65; 6 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Bear River, 60; 10 hospitalized; 1 death.
• San Juan County, 46; 7 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Central Utah, 23; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 13; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 12; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

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