SALT LAKE CITY-Friday, at the Utah State Capitol Building, Utah Governor Gary Herbert confirmed some important steps for the Beehive State are close to being achieved at the daily Utah coronavirus task force briefing.
In citing his Utah Leads Together chart revealed April 17, Herbert said we are still at the red level of “risk” as we seek to transition to “orange,” which represents moderate risk.
Herbert confirmed Utah is about “managing risk” and astutely confirmed that there will never be any such thing as zero risk in this regard.
Herbert continued, saying “we want to minimize risk factors” while the plan is to “protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Herbert said Utahns should continue to wear masks when entering public places, such as grocery stores.
As a safeguard for protecting themselves, Herbert said Utahns should also clean high touch surfaces often and cough into something other than their hands. He also advises against shaking hands at this time.
Herbert then revealed he plans to change the chart to orange “as soon as possible,” preferably May 1 which is next Friday.
Herbert cautioned that if such a thing should occur, it will not be business as usual. However, he asserted that this is a step in the right direction.
Herbert said everyone needs to care for those at highest risk.
In more good news for the Beehive State, Herbert confirmed hospitalization rates have declined since April 8.
Furthermore, he said, the hospitalization rate has plummeted 18 percent within the last 7 days. He stated the infection rate is almost a 1:1 ratio at this time.
He said Utah has a high capacity to test for COVID-19 and if all went well, could conduct 9,000 tests per day.
The Beehive State, he said, currently ranks 4th nationally in testing.
Herbert stated that as things progress toward moderate risk, it will begin to be about things Utahns can do rather than things they cannot do.
With the backlash concerning hydroxychloroquine, Herbert confirmed that Utah will not be purchasing any more of it.
Herbert confirmed that there is “a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel.”
He then portended that “next week, we will provide more information in our press briefings to help better acquaint ourselves with what life under moderate risk, or orange, will look like.”
Herbert then said that he wants to open the national parks in Utah as well as Lake Powell.
Dine-in restaurants, under moderate risk, would then be open as well. Herbert said that employees would be screened every shift for any signs of a fever. Tables would also be spaced six feet apart.
When asked about hydroxychloroquine, Herbert said “it was viewed as a therapeutic drug, not a miracle drug. I believe everyone who was involved in the purchasing decisions was acting in good faith. We will continue the review process.”
Herbert said that when someone tests positive for COVID-19, experts at the Utah Department of Health contact them to help identify other people who may have been infected so that they can reach out to close contacts.
Herbert said that if you download the Healthy Together app and choose to share location data, you help in sharing accurate information with the public health worker reaching out as part of the process.
The task force briefings resume Monday.
