COVID-19 in Utah
3.3 million Americans file for unemployment as of the week ending on March 31, 2020. Since fewer people are working the economy is stalled. Many people are out of work. The global number of deaths from COVID-19 is 50,000 in total cases. In 2007, Utah last ran a Flu Pandemic Readiness. Some good news for Utah is that we are not sharing ventilators in hospitals, and Utah’s Death rate is low compared to other places such as New York and Italy.
Utah has not been testing so it’s hard to know how many people are actually infected. The good news about utah as stated by The Salt Lake Tribune is “But the information Utah does have hints at an outbreak that could be slower moving and less deadly than researchers have predicted in some other states.” And we may still have a chance to avoid getting worse. The model anticipates only 20% of people in Utah will need hospital care.
On Wednesday, April 1, Governor Gary Herbert prohibited dining it at restaurants. He also ordered that if someone in the household as you test positive for it then everyone in that household must remain in quarantine. The Salt Lake School District is also now offering dinner for elementary and highschools. Another article from the Salt Lake Tribune states “ Dozens of Utah sports and performance venues sent out the same message Wednesday: To “save summer and fall” from the coronavirus, Utahns should stay home now”.
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/03/29/are-utah-hospitals-ready/
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/04/01/live-coronavirus-updates/
I am very glad Utah reacted in a timely and professional manner compared to other states. It is great news that as a state we have a considerably low number of deaths. Governor Herbert was smart in prohibiting dining in, enforcing a curfew and keeping gathering under 10 people. Utah was lucky to have preventive existing conditions that has slowed the spread of the virus. However, citizens of Utah have been following the state and national guidelines very poorly. As a whole, Utah has not seen a substantial decrease in non-essential visits, social encounters or mobility*. Utah has roughly 7,000 confirmed cases (as of May 18th), but social distancing is the upmost important preventive tool we have when responding to a pandemic like COVID-19. Furthermore, a second wave is predicted to hit Utah later this year. Our state epidemiologist is concerned as the state loosens the restrictions*. So while we have a slight advantage compared to other states, we still have a long way to go.
*https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard?view=county&fips=49035
*https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/05/01/utah-should-expect-nd/
Hi khirstina,I agree with you.
Even though the virus is serious now, but we can still come over through it. Because Utah have more medical sources than others, and fewer people get inflected. Also, Utah that is one of the state with serious lock down policy. So everything will be find. Here is a link that might help you. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/03/29/are-utah-hospitals-ready/