HEBER CITY-Saturday, Wasatch County Health Department Health Education and Medical Reserve Corps coordinator Trudy Brereton clarified the department’s stance on what will be acceptable in the county following Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s Friday statements.
As Herbert lifted the restriction on Utahns only being able to visit state parks in their own counties, Brereton confirmed that her department has no authority over Wasatch Mountain State Park and Jordanelle State Park.
Herbert said that his bestowal of permission does not usurp the powers of counties who have set their own restrictions in regard to COVID-19 as Wasatch County has done.
If Utahns desire to visit these state parks, they have the right to enter Wasatch County if they so choose. However, Brereton told Heber Valley Radio Saturday, they must call these state parks ahead of time to see if this is all right with personnel at Wasatch Mountain and Jordanelle State Parks.
Brereton said that presently, Wasatch County asks Utahns to recreate near their homes until the restriction expires May 1. However, Brereton continued, should out-of-county fishermen, who are considered “tourists,” fish anywhere in the county, they will not be turned away.
Brereton said that per capita, Wasatch County has the second-most COVID-19 cases in Utah, behind only Salt Lake County, so she reminds all residents to be safe and honor social distancing regulations.
