SALT LAKE CITY-Wednesday, at the Utah State Capitol Building, select members of the Utah Coronavirus Task Force addressed the media.
Starting things off was Gary Harter, the executive director of veterans and military affairs who spoke concerning resources for veterans in regard to COVID-19.
Harter said that vets who have not received their stimulus checks and who have not filed their 2018 or 2019 taxes must apply for their stimulus check by Tuesday May 5 at veterans.utah.gov or irs.gov.
Furthermore, Harter continued, veterans can get tested for COVID-19 if they show at least one symptom.
Drop-in mental health services are also available to veterans, he confirmed. Harter stated that presently there are no Utah veterans in long-term healthcare facilities who have died from COVID-19.
Harter concluded, saying that if any veterans are in need of assistance, they should not hesitate to reach out and ask for help.
Next, Monte Roberts, the director of the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles said that the Hurricane DMV location will be open with limited access as will all five of the Wasatch Front locations: Ogden, Farmington, Salt Lake City, South Valley (Draper) and Provo.
Roberts said that everyone inside the DMV should wear a mask and practice social distancing. He confirmed that most of the services people need from the DMV can be reached and performed by workers online at secure.utah.gov/rex/help/stationmap.html.
Roberts confirmed the Richfield, Price and Vernal DMV offices are too remote for them to service, “a bit difficult to get to,” so those locations remain closed at this time.
The Heber City office should be called at 657-3185 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm as it will not be open at this time.
Roberts concluded, saying, “those who make a scheduled appointment for the DMV will get priority, something like a fast pass at Disneyland.”
Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Angela C. Dunn then spoke, citing the data from Tuesday-Wednesday concerning the increase of COVID-19 cases in Utah.
Presently, Dunn said, there are 4,495 positive tests for COVID-19 in the Beehive State. This, is an increase of 152 positive tests from Tuesday-Wednesday and a +42 increase from the Monday-Tuesday totals.
Of the 3,339 tests administered Tuesday-Wednesday, 152 tested positive, or 4.4 percent of Utahns, who were tested in that span.
There have been 105,778 total tests administered in Utah and the positive test percentage is currently at 4.25 percent.
There are 13 new hospitalizations in the state of Utah in the past 24 hours, but no new deaths.
Wasatch County presently has 147 positive cases of COVID-19, an increase of five in the past 24 hours. There are presently 7 hospitalizations from the disease in Heber City, and one death, dating back to April 10.
Dunn continued, saying, that even as Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has given the green light to advance from “red” (high risk) to “orange” (moderate risk) Friday, “some individuals still need to take extra precautions.”
Dunn confirmed that there are no plans for Utah to close its borders to visitors from neighboring states.
She also stated that vulnerable populations need to take special precautions as businesses begin to open back up in the Beehive State.
She also reminded residents that in public they still need to wear masks as they practice social distancing.
Dunn confirmed “we are striking the right balance that allows us to open the economy slowly while protecting those who are most vulnerable.”
Dunn then stressed the importance of maintaining capacity in hospitals, ICU and equipment to car for people.
She said that if a lot of spread of COVID-19 in the community occurs, or a surge in cases, policies may need to be reevaluated.
She confirmed the three-tier method is important because it allows the state to slowly open the economy while protecting vulnerable populations.
She said a slow roll out allows the state to analyze and look at data.
In conclusion, she said “we are going to do everything in our power to continue to control it [COVID-19].”
The Utah Coronavirus Task Force will again address the media at the State Capitol Building Thursday.
