Coronavirus: Utah responds to the pandemic

COVID-19 testing is performed at Intermountain Healthcare’s Taylorsville Clinic in Taylorsville on Friday, July 17, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, Rep. Ben McAdams and Gov. Gary Herbert have been key figures as the Beehive State responds to COVID-19

Utah Department of Health

Utah has seen 39,696 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 300 total deaths as of Thursday, according to the Utah Department of Health. That’s an increase of 502 cases from Wednesday. Nine new deaths were reported.

• Total number of COVID-19 cases: 39,696
• Total reported people tested: 524,367
• Total COVID-19 hospitalizations: 2,346
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 300
• Single-day high for reported cases: 954 (July 16)
• Single-day high for reported deaths: 10 (July 14 and 22)

All Utah counties remain in their current risk statuses. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has not issued a statewide mask mandate but encouraged Utahns to wear them.

“This weekend when I’m going to be with my family, I can tell you I will be wearing my mask,” the governor said prior to the Pioneer Day weekend. “I think that’s showing respect for my family members and my loved ones and makes them feel more comfortable, too. All of us should be doing it.”

Worldwide, the novel coronavirus pandemic has now infected 16,114,449 and killed 646,641 people as of Monday, according to the World Health Organization.

The respiratory illness is especially hard on those who are elderly, immune-compromised or who have chronic health conditions. Children are not severely ill with COVID-19, as the resulting illness is called, unless they have an underlying condition, but they can transmit the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of many government agencies providing extensive resources and advice on managing this coronavirus.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/34NPanF