Summit, Wasatch counties start holiday weekend as low-risk destinations

Adriana Rodriguez, a phlebotomist with University of Utah Health, gets ready to draw a patient’s blood at a testing facility in Park City on May 6, 2020. Late Thursday afternoon, Gov. Gary Herbert moved Summit County to the low-risk level for the spread of COVID-19. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Utah reports 1 more COVID-19-related death Friday

SALT LAKE CITY — Two of Utah’s most popular spots for recreation, Summit and Wasatch counties, have moved into Utah’s low-risk level in the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

“The data show that the actions of our residents and businesses in March and April paid off,” Dr. Rich Bullough, Summit County’s health director, said in a statement.

“These results are positive but not permanent. Until the time effective vaccinations for COVID-19 are widely available, only responsible personal behaviors will help keep this disease in check,” he said.

Gov. Gary Herbert issued the order Thursday evening, allowing the counties to relax their guidelines after consultations between both counties’ health departments and the Utah Department of Health, state officials said in a statement.

But not all Utah communities are loosening restrictions.

On Friday, the governor allowed the towns of Bluff and Mexican Hat in San Juan County to increase their risk from low to moderate. On Thursday, the state had denied Bluff’s request to move to the high-risk category.

Bluff, which has a population of 262 people, borders the Navajo Nation where one of the worst outbreaks in the country is occurring.

“Because of difficult conditions in the Navajo Nation and along its borders, we are transitioning the municipalities of Bluff and Mexican Hat from yellow to orange to signal a significant health risk in the area. We very much appreciate working with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on efforts to combat COVID-19. Our hearts go out to all of our Navajo friends who have been impacted by this awful virus,” Herbert said.

Meanwhile, Herbert ordered flags lowered Sunday on state and public grounds to honor victims of the pandemic in conjunction with President Donald Trump lowering flags at federal buildings.

“We join with the entire country in paying our respects to those who have lost their lives in this deadly pandemic. As we fight this virus together, let us remember those who have passed, those who are struggling with the disease, and the health care heroes who make daily sacrifices to provide the best treatment to those who are suffering,” Herbert said in a statement.

Residents and businesses are also encouraged to lower their flags from sunrise to sunset on Sunday.

Summit and Wasatch were among just three counties in the state that remained under moderate risk orders while the rest entered the low-risk phase May 1. Grand County, Salt Lake City and West Valley City are now the only areas that remain in the moderate-risk phase.

Although Summit County was Utah’s first hot spot in the pandemic — investigation through antibody testing is underway to learn whether January’s Sundance Film Festival brought the virus to the area — its infection rate has declined over the last week, according to county officials.

The area was the first in Utah to implement strict public health measures, including a stay-at-home order and in-restaurant dining restriction.

“It must be emphasized that the only reason we have made this enormous progress is due to the high level of compliance by our residents, which everyone should be extremely proud of. Going forward, we are completely reliant on this continued vigilance by our residents, visitors and businesses to keep our economy open,” Summit County Council Chairman Doug Clyde said.

Meanwhile, Wasatch County officials addressed inaccurate rumors that they were trying to move back to the high-risk phase during a County Council meeting via Zoom on Thursday. During a public comment session, council members read emails sent by community members pleading for the move to yellow and economic reopening.

Officials expressed optimism their request to move to the low-risk phase would get approved due to their high testing numbers and relatively low case counts.

“We’ve been able to keep that curve pretty flat from the time of our first cases,” Dr. Randall Probst, Wasatch County’s health director, said during the meeting.

Long-term care funding

One more person died with the novel coronavirus in Utah, a woman older than 85 who lived in a long-term care facility in the Weber-Morgan Health District, according to the Utah Department of Health.

She brings the state’s toll to 93.

To help long-term nursing facilities in Utah, which have been hard-hit during the pandemic as they house those at highest risk from the virus, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $37 million in funding. The money will aid facilities “suffering from significant expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19,” federal officials said in a statement.

In Utah, 40 of the state’s 93 deaths have been long-term care residents, according to state health department data. The outbreak has reached 112 facilities, and nearly 200 health care workers in them have tested positive for the disease.

Long-term care facilities nationwide have also seen up to a 6% decline in their patient populations due to residents dying and potential clients choosing other care settings, according to the Department of Health and Human Services

“These additional funds may help nursing homes address critical needs such as labor, scaling up their testing capacity, acquiring personal protective equipment and a range of other expenses directly linked to this pandemic,” officials said.

Hospital visitor restrictions

Intermountain Healthcare announced Friday the hospital system is easing visitor restrictions.

Two designated visitors will now be allowed to see patients who aren’t suspected to have COVID-19, Intermountain officials said in a statement. End-of-life patients, pediatric and some obstetric patients with COVID-19 will also be allowed two visitors who must wear protective gear.

Before entering hospitals, visitors will be screened for symptoms and receive a temperature check. They are encouraged to bring face covering when possible.

Cases in Utah surpassed 8,000 for the first time in the state as 183 more were confirmed Friday. About 4,000 new tests were performed, bringing the total to 186,834. Utah’s positive rate has risen slightly to 4.3%, up from 4.2% last week.

The current hospitalization number remained the same as the previous day at 108. Cases considered recovered now total 4,748 in Utah after passing the three-week point since their diagnoses.

The latest breakdown of cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:

• Salt Lake County, 4,308; 389 hospitalized; 64 deaths.
• Utah County, 1,651; 93 hospitalized; 13 deaths.
• Summit County, 403; 37 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Davis County, 401; 34 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Southwest Utah, 281; 20 hospitalized; 4 deaths.
• San Juan County, 254; 26 hospitalized; 4 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 252; 29 hospitalized; 4 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 228; 10 hospitalized; 1 death.
• Tooele County, 108; 6 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Bear River, 98; 13 hospitalized; 1 death.
• Central Utah, 34; 2 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 21; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 18; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

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