Salt Lake County, five others to get to the “moderate” transmission phase

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SALT LAKE CITY – Nearly a year after COVID-19 first arrived in Utah, six counties in the state, including the most populous state, Salt Lake County, will move into the “moderate” phase of transmission for the virus, KSL NewsRadio discovered Thursday .

Provinces in the “moderate” transmission phase have no collection restrictions as long as people wear masks.

Listen Live: Gov. Cox, health officials hold their weekly press conference

At a weekly press conference, state government and health officials announced reduced age requirements and expanded health conditions that qualify for vaccinations.

Gov. Spencer Cox announced that Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Grand, Sanpete and Wasatch counties would all move from “high” to “moderate” transmission levels based on the state’s virus response plan. However, he also took the time to list all the Utahns lost from COVID-19 to date.

“While we’ve seen phenomenal progress in our statistics, let me take a moment to consider that we’ve lost nearly 2,000 Utahns to this insidious disease,” Cox said. “Those 2000 people are real people, and for those families this is real and tragic.”

Transmission levels are changing in Salt Lake, Davis and other counties

The Utah Department of Health uses a graduated transmission index to determine when locations such as Salt Lake County and the other five governor-named counties can ease restrictions on COVID-19.

According to the system, a province has a high transmission level when the 7-day mean percentage of positivity is greater than or equal to 10%, the 14-day number of cases rises above 325 people per 100,000 population, the total ICU use reaches 72% or more and the number of IC beds used for COVID-19 specifically reaches more than 15%.

“There are no restrictions for meetings in moderate [counties], ” Said Cox. “This is incredible news as long as people wear masks.”

That means you can sit shoulder to shoulder with someone at a basketball game or movie theater, as long as your masks are in place.

With moderate viruses, state guidelines allow residents to meet in person with no limits on the size of events, as long as people wear masks.

In addition to Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Grand, Sanpete and Wasatch counties, Box Elder, Duchesne, Juab, Morgan, San Juan, Washington and Weber counties now fall into the moderate transmission category.

“2.2 million Utahns now live in moderate transmission areas,” Cox said.

Only five counties in Utah, Daggett, Millard, Piute, Rich, and Wayne, are considered low transmission areas for COVID-19. The remaining counties in the state are still considered “high” transmission areas.

Cases continue to decline

On Thursday, the Utah Department of Health reported 611 new cases of COVID-19 in the state out of 7,286 people tested. The statewide 7-day moving average of the percent positivity of “people over people” is 10.0%, and the 7-day moving average of the percent positivity of “tests over tests” is 4.8%.

State health officials reported that 203 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. 12 more people have died from COVID-19, out of a total of 1,965; however, two previously recorded deaths were removed from the totals and attributed to other causes, and seven of the 12 deaths reported today occurred before February 11, 2021.

This story is being updated.

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Contributions: Kira Hoffelmeyer

How to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus spreads from person to person, similar to the common cold and flu. So to keep it from spreading:

  • Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Don’t touch your face.
  • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others according to the CDC’s recommendations.
  • Keep children and people with compromised immune systems away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing (at least six feet in this case).
  • If there’s an outbreak in your area, practice social detachment (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sporting events, or other activities).
  • Get a flu shot.

Local sources

KSL Coronavirus Q&A

Utah’s Coronavirus Information

Utah State Board of Education

Utah Hospital Association

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707

National sources

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions, World Health Organization

Cases in the United States

Source