Chloe Morroni, Salt Lake County communications director, left, listens as Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson introduces the county’s new youth-focused campaign aimed at keeping teens safe in response to the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in the county during a press conference at Valley Regional Park in Taylorsville on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. Wilson also clarified a health order for face coverings as it relates to the appropriate use for outdoor settings. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Salt Lake County mayor notes importance of masks outdoors
TAYLORSVILLE — As COVID-19 cases continue spiking across the state — a record 1,198 positives reported Thursday — Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson wants to clarify that masks will help to contain disease outdoors, too.
“What we now know is that social distancing and the wearing of face masks are our strongest tools to combat COVID-19,” she said Thursday during a press conference at Valley Regional Park.
Wilson said she was “thrilled” that Utah County officials also enacted a mask mandate, and not only because Salt Lake County shares a border with Utah County. She wants case numbers to drop throughout the state.
“This virus does not respect municipal boundaries,” Wilson said.
The latest mandate for Utah County prompted the neighboring county mayor to further clarify her own mask mandate, which was first enacted in June, that “no matter where you are, if you’re around others, you should wear a mask,” she said.
“We need to continue to battle this challenge,” Wilson said, adding that the Salt Lake County mask mandate will be in place at least until a vaccine becomes available, “or we see very, very, very low cases.”
Another 1,198 new cases were reported Thursday by the Utah Department of Health, a new daily record for the state. In addition, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has increased to 188. The previous single-day record, of 1,117, was reported Friday.
In all, there have been 67,119 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Utah, with 3,619 hospitalizations.
No new deaths were reported Thursday, leaving the state’s death toll at 444.
The rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 916 cases per day, with a percent positivity of 14.2%, higher than any week since cases were first reported in Utah in mid-March.
In the last two weeks, infection rates have spiked throughout the state, particularly in the highest populated areas, after what was being called a plateau ended in early September, according to the health department.
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Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Unlike any time in the past six months, new cases seem to largely be stemming from youth interactions, including some at school, though, it is difficult to know for sure. Wilson and her team of county officials have launched a new social media campaign targeting high school students, asking them to “mask up or miss out.”
Too many teens are gathering in groups larger than is responsible, she said, adding that they’re also not wearing masks when proper social distancing can’t be maintained.
The campaign showcases hypothetical events — dating or school dances — that can’t be experienced the same at home.
“Kids are kids, and this is definitely a hard time for them,” Wilson said. “Fewer interactions will keep us safe.”
Salt Lake County will be delivering 1,000 masks to each of its 23 municipalities for city mayors and other community leaders to pass out as they see fit. Wilson said Salt Lake County has a “park patrol” that visits parks and playgrounds with extra masks to hand out.
This story will be updated.
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