Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you all have had a good week and have enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. On May 15th the Utah Department of Health reported 163, 218 administered tests, 6,913 positive cases, 566 total hospitalizations, and 77 fatalities.
This week, Governor Herbert announced that all areas of Utah, except for Grand, Summit, and Wasatch counties, Salt Lake City and West Valley City, will transition from the moderate (orange) risk to the low (yellow) risk phase of the Utah Leads Together plan on Saturday, May 16. This is an exciting step forward!
This low-risk phase will:
- No longer asks individuals to leave home infrequently.
- Raise size limits for private social interactions from 20 to 50 people.
- Allow team sports as long as there is frequent symptom checking and spectators are socially distant.
- Relax some swimming pool guidelines.
While most of the state will be considered a part of the low risk or (yellow) phase, high-risk individuals need to continue to take added precautions because they are more likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19. Vulnerable populations still need to follow the high risk (red) phase protocols.
Instructions and guidelines for individuals and businesses moving into the low-risk (yellow) phase of the Utah Leads Together plan can be found here. Instructions and guidelines for those still in the moderate risk (orange) phase can be found here. Information on the color-coded risk phases can be found here.
The Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission discussed the data driving recommendations to protect Utah’s vulnerable populations and allow the state to carefully transition to lower risk statuses. You can watch the press conference here.
Highlights from the Commission’s press conference include:
- 99 percent of Utahns testing positive for COVID-19 are recovering.
- 92 percent of individuals are able to recover at home.
- 94 percent of fatalities have been either over 65, have had high-risk pre-existing health conditions, or both as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The PPE Push Pack program, which provided small businesses with a week supply of PPE, has concluded. The state supplied 3,514 PPE push packs to small businesses throughout Utah. The final 874 push packs are currently out for delivery/pickup. The national guard provided 120 individuals to help assemble and distribute the packs. You can read more about the PPE Push Pack program here.
As our state carefully transitions from the orange phase to the yellow phase, we must all remain committed to protecting high-risk individuals. Utah is using data to drive decisions that aim to protect the health and livelihood of all Utahns. I look forward to this new phase of the Utah Leads Together plan and believe we can overcome this virus as we continue to work together and utilize data.
In the News
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks will Begin to Increase Recreational Access
Beginning May 13, Dinosaur National Monument will Reopen
Utah Ranks #1 in Paycheck Protection Loan Amounts
Utah State Legislature Will Look at Dozens of Potential Bills Reacting to COVID-19
