SALT LAKE CITY – As health officials continue to push for caution as Utah fights the coronavirus pandemic, many communities are moving forward with New Year’s Eve celebrations designed to safely usher in what everyone hopes is a much better year than 2020.
There are still opportunities to catch fireworks and events on Thursday evenings. But as Intermountain physician Dr. Edward Stenehjem said in a Wednesday Q&A, Utahns should take the same precautions recommended for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“This holiday season, our recommendation is to only meet with people at your home,” said Stenehjem. “Don’t invite others who could potentially have the virus, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, that could transmit the virus. This is also what we recommended on Thanksgiving, in line with (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations. Our community transmission speed is just that high. ”
The seven-day moving average of positive COVID-19 tests in Utah is 25%. “There is simply still a lot of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Stenehjem.
The state has compiled its own tips for safe holiday celebrations on its coronavirus web page.
Last Christmas I gave you my heart … This year, to save me from tears, please take a physical distance and wear a mask. Please do not give COVID to someone special.
– Response to Utah State COVID-19 (@UtahCoronavirus) December 29, 2020
The more people from different households a person meets at a meeting, the closer the physical interaction is, and the longer the interaction lasts, the greater the risk that a person with COVID-19 will spread it to others, whether he or she has symptoms or not, ‘says the state.
It recommends that meetings be kept as small as possible and that participants wear masks indoors, be physically remote, practice good hygiene, and do not attend events when sick or exposed to COVID-19.
Changed events
The Gateway’s annual “Last Hurray!” celebration is only a few years old, but had already grown into the largest New Years celebration in the state. This year the live entertainment and fireworks are back, but the organizers are encouraging people to tune in online instead of showing up in person.
People will be attending the event as The Gateway has sold a limited number of tickets for families to enjoy the show outside in the main square. Parties are physically kept at a distance, masked and assigned a place; However, tickets for the event are sold out. Interested Utahns can still get on a waiting list in case a registered party is unable to attend.
For everyone else, The Gateway encourages Utahns to live stream the action from home. “People can log on to lasthurrahslc.com or atthegateway.com and see the band’s performances, countdown and fireworks,” said Jacklyn Briggs, Gateway’s marketing manager. “There will be live shots of The Gateway so people can have a local experience from the comfort and security of their home.”
The entertainment starts at 11pm with music from local act The Cool featuring Bri Ray.
Some Gateway eateries are also open late, including HallPass and Dave & Buster’s, as well as The Store grocer. “Anyone who comes down is welcome to enter open traders,” Briggs said. “Just as a reminder, they will run out of capacity because they have a certain amount of space that, once filled, won’t let more people in. So that’s first come, first served.”
The square is only cordoned off for cardholders.
That is the gift you can give us. Wear a mask, maintain social distance, minimize your contacts so that you do not contribute to the continuous transmission of this virus.
–Dr. Edward Stenehjem, Intermountain physician
Elsewhere in Utah, Provo is holding a drive-in fireworks celebration with shows at 9:00 PM and midnight. The Living Planet Aquarium hosts a “Noon Year’s Eve” event, there is a laser show during the holiday season at the Maverik Center, and the popular Luminaria light show at Thanksgiving Point has a sold-out New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Of course there will be parties and gatherings and busy bars. But there are safer options this New Year’s Eve and, as Stenehjem said at the Intermountain presentation, the best way to thank Utah’s health workers this holiday season “is to not get a COVID and pass COVID on to someone else.”
“That’s the gift you can give us,” he said. “Wear a mask, distance yourself socially, minimize your contacts so that you do not contribute to the continuous transmission of this virus.”
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Graham Dudley