State commission recommends Utah transition to green level risk category

University of Utah Health’s Isabella Lesa, Shelly Archuleta-Boyce and Chris Larsen try to cool off and stay hydrated while administering free COVID-19 tests in the 90-degree weather at Victor’s Event Center in West Valley City on Friday, May 29, 2020. The Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City, in collaboration with Victor’s Event Center, the Utah Department of Health and the University of Utah Wellness Bus collaborated for the event. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — The data on coronavirus in Utah is good enough that a local commission believes the state should move into a “smart green” risk phase, allowing nearly all Utah businesses to open.

The health department, on the other hand, says a “sharp spike” in cases in the past week should preclude any further loosening of restrictions, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said on Wednesday.

“I want to be very clear today that we have increased spread of COVID-19 in Utah,” she said. “This past week we’ve had a sharp spike in cases, and it’s not explained easily by a single outbreak or an increase in testing. This is a statewide trend.”

She does not recommend anywhere in Utah move to green risk level.

“Utah is and will remain in a state of emergency, the lower risk level does not indicate that our state is back to normal,” a letter from Utah’s Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission issued on Tuesday states.

The Utah Department of Health on Wednesday announced another 295 positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah, as well as four new deaths, all in Salt Lake County. That brings the total number of reported COVID-19 cases in Utah to 10,497, with 117 deaths.

The commission, made up of health and government officials as well as business and community representatives, unanimously voted on Tuesday that a “smart green level” would require continued social distancing and wearing masks in public.

“The commission encourages individuals to wear a mask as a mark of common respect for the high-risk population.”

Its decision, which has been referred to Gov. Gary Herbert for consideration, involves “key data indicators” that support the transition, the commission states. The state is currently practicing protocols outlined in the yellow phase of the state’s recovery plan, Utah Leads Together.

Those indicators include hospitalization rates, transmission rates and overall spread of disease.

“The commission will continue to review data to safely take our state to a new phase and allow our economy to move forward,” said Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, co-chairman of the commission and acting director of the Utah Department of Health. “I encourage all Utahns to maintain social distancing, wear face coverings and practice good hygiene that has allowed our state to get to this point.”

As of June 2, hospitals in Utah have yet to be overwhelmed by the pandemic, averaging a 61% capacity in the intensive care units for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients in the past 14 days. Beds occupied by COVID-19 patients have not exceeded 11% of total capacity for the last two weeks as well.

The transmission rate in the state has been below 1.2 for 22 consecutive days, meaning that for every person who contracts the illness, another 1.2 people become infected, the commission reports. A transmission rate of 1:1 over a two-week-span would indicate an adequate level of stability.

And the majority of people infected are being exposed to COVID-19 through a known contact — 81% — with 58% from someone living in the same home. Scientifically, rates of at least 60%, and ideally above 85%, are favorable and indicate low levels of community spread.

“The data shows that a majority of Utahns can transition to the lower risk guidelines. However, this does not mean every Utahn should or can transition at the same time,” the commission’s recommendation states.

Salt Lake City remains at an orange or medium-risk phase. Most of the rest of the state is in the yellow or low-risk phase.

While the numbers are good, the situation still remains quite risky for vulnerable populations, including anyone 65 years old or older, and/or anyone with underlying health conditions, who are encouraged to continue staying home to stay safe at this time, Burton said.

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

• Salt Lake County, 5,603; 484 hospitalized; 78 deaths.
• Utah County, 2,028; 106 hospitalized; 17 deaths.
• Southwest Utah, 498; 46 hospitalized; 4 deaths.
• Davis County, 494; 47 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Summit County, 418; 38 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 316; 34 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
• San Juan County, 309; 30 hospitalized; 5 deaths.
• Bear River, 305; 17 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 305; 14 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Tooele County, 136; 9 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Central Utah, 39; 3 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 26; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 20; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

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