Herbert: Utah’s situation with COVID-19 ‘remains critical’ as 1,724 new cases are reported

Chase Schumaker, a Salt Lake County mobile tester, smiles as he administer a COVID-19 test at the county’s testing site in the Maverik Center parking lot in West Valley City on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Herbert was among Utah leaders who met with Dr. Deborah Birx and CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield in Utah on Saturday to discuss means to curb COVID-19 surge

SALT LAKE CITY — Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Robert Redfield met with Utah leaders Saturday to talk about strategies to curb the COVID-19 surge, according to a tweet by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Utah’s situation “remains critical,” Herbert wrote.

“We discussed targeted strategies to end the current surge in infections. We will share more soon. In the meantime, mask up, and protect your extended family and friends by celebrating tonight only with those you live with.”

The tweet said in part that state data show social gatherings are the main source of COVID-19 spread. “Dr. Birx and Redfield confirmed this pattern is nationwide.”

The tweet continues: “Because of this, committing not to socialize with people outside your household is the best thing you can do to stop the virus, protect our hospital capacity, and save lives.

“Please resist the temptation to gather with extended family and friends this evening, and consider celebrating Halloween with a small party of those you live with.”

Redfield is the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ambassador Birx was appointed by the Trump administration as coronavirus response coordinator in the Office of the Vice President.

Herbert wrote that Redfield “confirmed that masks work. Wear one anytime you are near someone who doesn’t live in your house. Many who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and never know they have the virus. Wearing a mask is a scientifically proven way to prevent additional infections.”

Birx has been traveling the country observing how Americans are following public health recommendations intended to stem the spread of COVID-19. She meets with state and community leaders in closed-door gathering. Press reports indicate she has been critical of conditions she has observed.

According to CNN, she has been to more than 40 states, with stops this week in the Mountain West, including Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Meanwhile, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson dropped off treats to public and health care workers Saturday, a nod to the Halloween holiday but more so to thank them for their committed service to community health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wilson also visited with workers administering COVID-19 tests at drive-thru location at the Maverik Center in West Valley City.

“I wanted to come because it’s Halloween, but I also wanted to come to thank them, because of the negative comments that have been made recently in the community,” she said.

Wilson said she told one worker that for every negative uttered, “there are thousands of us that believe in you, that thank you and appreciate you and that know that you are the heart of this movement for our community to be safe again and healthy again.”

Wilson said recent events had been “heartbreaking,” both in terms of negative comments expressed against public health leaders and others waging the fight against coronavirus but worse, protests this past week outside the home of state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn.

“The people that have assembled here doing this work, do it day in and day out, and have a belief in the work that they’re doing. We need to honor them,” Wilson said.

On Saturday, the Utah Department of Health reported 1,724 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total number of infections resulting from the widespread virus to 114,656 positive cases. This was down from a record number of cases reported Friday at 2,292.

The rolling seven-day average number of daily positive tests is 1,638 per day.

Meanwhile, the rolling seven-day average for percent of positive laboratory tests is 18.4%, slightly up from 18.2% on Friday, according to the health department.

The health department announced another three deaths throughout the state, bringing the total number of lives lost to COVID-19 in Utah to 604.

The deaths included a Washington County man between 65 and 84 who was hospitalized at time of death; a Utah County woman between 45 and 64 who was hospitalized at time of death; and a Duchesne County man between 25 and 44. It was unknown if he was hospitalized at time of death.

A total of 1,081,823 Utahns have been tested for COVID-19, which includes 8,186 people tested Friday.

There are 317 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Total hospitalizations from the beginning of the outbreak are 5,463, according to the health department.

This story will be updated.

1,638 per day.

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