SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah‘s incoming governor urged residents to not attend any large New Year’s Eve gatherings Thursday as newly reported coronavirus cases rose sharply in what appears to be the start of a holiday-related surge.
“Fortunately we only saw a small surge related to Thanksgiving,” Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who was elected governor in November, wrote on Twitter. “But our fear is that people were less cautious during Christmas. If you are planning large gatherings to celebrate New Years Eve, please reconsider.”
Anyone who traveled over the holidays should assume that they’ve been exposed and limit interactions with others to help protect the state’s already-strained hospital system, according to state health officials.
There have been 30,200 doses administered in Utah, but officials have said the state’s estimated vaccination timeline may be pushed back by nationwide delays.
“The vaccine has brought hope of brighter days ahead but until every Utahn has the chance to be immunized, we must continue to make small sacrifices now,” the state health department wrote in a statement.
