SALT LAKE CITY — Many of the restrictions put in place due to pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus will be lifted at 12:01 a.m. Friday in Utah.
Gatherings will again be permitted up to 20 people, though social distancing is encouraged throughout the duration. Businesses will be allowed to open so long as they can maintain proper standards, according to state and local health department guidelines.
There will also be more opportunities to travel, carefully, said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
“We’re making progress. We’re moving forward,” he said during Thursday’s briefing at the Capitol. “We’ll get through this stabilization and soon into recovery.”
The Utah Department of Health reported 4,672 cases on Thursday, an increase of 177 over Wednesday. It also reported another death caused by the novel coronavirus — a 60-year-old Salt Lake County man unrelated to outbreaks at Utah’s long-term care facilities. It brings the state’s COVID-19-related death total to 46 since March 22.
Three hundred ninety people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah, according to the health department. And, more than 108,500 people have been tested at more than 50 locations throughout the state.
Officials believe a slight uptick in cases of COVID-19 may result from the newly eased restrictions, but, “this is no time for us to relax,” Herbert said.
“As we move to reopen parts of the economy and society, we’re relying on all Utahns to continue to adhere to social distancing standards whenever they can,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. “Everybody needs to take responsibility to prevent the spread.”
One of the major reasons Utah is ready to move from high risk to moderate risk of infection, she said, is the state’s increased testing capacity. Positive cases can be identified quickly and traced to effectively prevent further spread.
The health department plans to introduce strike teams of experts to handle outbreaks within communities, including mobile testing and investigation efforts, particularly in neighborhoods and communities in Salt Lake and Utah counties, where Dunn said “known hot spots” exist.
About 10% to 15% of COVID-19 cases in Utah can be attributed to community spread, where a contact point is not identified; whereas, the majority come from known contacts with the virus.
State officials have encouraged businesses and their patrons to continue to wear masks, which Dunn said “serve as an additional barrier when social distancing isn’t possible.”
“This is something everybody is going to have to figure out, the level of risk they want to take,” she said. “The risk is quite small at this point.”
Vulnerable populations — including people age 65 and older, as well as those with underlying conditions or already compromised immune systems — are encouraged to continue staying home to stay safe.
Summit County, which was one of the state’s initial hot spots, issued a new Joint Public Health Order on Thursday, which also takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, as the county’s stay-at-home order expires.
“Due to the support and cooperation of our communities and the hard work of our health care services, we are ready to move to the next phase of our fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Richard Bullough, Summit County Health director. “The public’s sacrifices made all the difference in flattening the curve, allowing us to lift the stay home order.”
The new order outlines protocols for different business sectors in Summit County and recommends all residents wear a mask in public, especially where social distancing is difficult to maintain. All pools, spas, dog parks and other nonessential areas will remain closed.
“While the virus will remain with us for the foreseeable future, we can now take a step forward by cautiously reopening businesses,” said Summit County Council Chairman Doug Clyde. He said continued effort from the public is imperative for success.
The local order is in effect until July 1, but will be reviewed after two weeks.
Herbert said that with a concerted public effort, he expects the state will remain in the moderate risk category for at least two weeks.
“I’m not overly concerned,” he said. “I think people understand that for their own self-interest, their health and the health of their loved ones and people they don’t know but still care about, they will do what is best. When it comes down to it, people are willing to do the right thing in the right way.”
Herbert on Thursday issued an executive order to extend overdue vehicle registrations until May 15, to help slow demand and alleviate crowding at Utah’s Department of Motor Vehicle offices. At least five offices along the Wasatch Front have already begun taking appointments for services, and others are offering limited drive-thru services. Some services are still available and recommended to be done online, the governor said.
While he moved the status of the state from red to orange starting Friday, as described in his Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, Herbert, who was also wearing an orange tie, said the state has “a ways to go” before it reaches a stabilization phase.
“People of Utah have been diligent and dedicated,” he said. “Stay safe and stay strong.”
The breakdown of Utah COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:
- Salt Lake County, 2,438; 228 hospitalized; 29 deaths.
- Utah County, 957; 44 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
- Summit County, 369; 32 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- Davis County, 285; 23 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
- Weber-Morgan, 158; 19 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
- Wasatch County, 148; 7 hospitalized; 1 death.
- Southwest Utah, 98; 12 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
- Tooele County, 65; 6 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- Bear River, 60; 10 hospitalized; 1 death.
- San Juan County, 46; 7 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
- Central Utah, 23; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 13; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
- Southeast Utah, 12; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.