COVID-19 SKI CITY UPDATES
To get details on how the Ski City resorts are handling COVID-19, including closure dates and details visit each of the resort's pages:
Salt Lake County
(Announcements to local partners from Unified Command: Mayor Jenny Wilson, Gary Edwards, Clint Mecham)
Salt Lake County (SLC0) has seen some promising numbers the last few days in the number of reported COVID-19 cases. While these new numbers have us hopeful, additional days of similar data will give us a better idea on trajectory. Here are the updated items for today:
- Unified Command will be extending the current health order which expires on April 13. A new order will be issued on Thursday or Friday of this week. Major changes are unlikely and the time frame for the extension is being considered based on evolving data regarding the peak of the virus and our community's ability to respond.
- SLCo and the State of Utah (State) are working on issuing best practice guidelines related to wearing cloth coverings in public.
- SLCo Council approved an extension of the SLCo declaration of Emergency. The extended declaration (declaration of emergency is different than a Health Order) will go through July 6th.
- SLCO has been working with the Utah Associations of Counties (UAC) and Utah League of Cities and Towns on requests for the legislature to consider during a special session. Please find attached a letter from UAC that was sent to legislative leadership.
- SLCo is working on providing municipalities a dashboard to better help you make decisions on behalf of your community.
- The State of Utah will use the Mountain America Expo Center as an alternate care site, or hospital overflow. The first priority for the site is not for COVID-19 patients, it is an overflow site for certain types of care, should it be needed.
- SLCo Economic Working Group: The following link is a list of economic recovery assistance for businesses https://slco.org/covid-19/economy/. SLCo has also setup a call center for those seeking more information at 385-468-4011.
- Please help us in communicating to businesses that sick employees should stay home. We are finding instances in where symptomatic individuals continue to work when ill.
- As you are well aware, group gatherings are especially impactful with the spread of COVID-19. We are very concerned that warming weather will lead to crowds and group gatherings in our parks and on the trails this weekend. A number of hot spots of COVID-19 spread can be traced back to group gatherings. We are asking that you maintain signage of playground equipment closures and continue to monitor your parks. Where possible, have officers assigned to prevent groups from congregating. Additionally, we are discussing ways to address this challenge in the coming weeks as the weather warms up. Los Angeles shut down their beaches, trails and parks and we are working hard to keep ours up and running as we understand the importance of our outdoors to our health.
- Vulnerable populations are a major concern for SLCo. For more information on the County’s efforts on vulnerable populations, please visit https://slco.org/covid-19/vulnerable-populations/.
- UTA new route and frequency schedule went into effect yesterday. More information can be found at www.rideuta.com.
- Damage Assessments continue to be collected and should be submitted to the State of Utah (State) by April 22nd. We are continuing to be on alert for aftershocks, which are expected to continue.
Suggested Guidance for Local Law Enforcement: (We Ask That You Consider and Pass Along)
While we recognize that each municipality controls its own law enforcement agency, we hope to have a coordinated approach. If you agree please pass along the following (or a version of the following):
In an effort to minimize confusion by the public, Salt Lake County is seeking to have law enforcement enact fairly uniform methods for violations of its recent health order. The order is a stay at home order but allows for a comprehensive list of essential activities and businesses and thus we believe there will continue to be a large number of residents moving throughout the community. However, we know mass gatherings can significantly spread the virus. State law requires penalties for violating a local public health order, class B for the initial offense, class A for repeat offenses):
Salt Lake County is recommending:
- When law enforcement witnesses or is notified of violations of six-feet social distancing it should determine if it is a family unit. The order allows for family units to be together so there will be cases of the violation of social distancing, which are not violations of the order.
- If not a family unit, and a minor violation, law enforcement should educate/give a verbal warning. If there are repeat or egregious violations (large group gatherings in parks, for example) law enforcement should consider citations.
- At this time, given the large number of essential activities that allow for movement through the community, we are asking that law enforcement not stop people traveling within the County, require credentials or letters identifying whether the travel is authorized under the Order, nor set up checkpoints.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
- Health Orders, Facility closings, and COVID-19 items can be found at https://www.slco.org/covid-19/.
- Health Department Orders:
Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) declaration and health orders for COVID-19 remain in effect. All retail and service-oriented businesses are required to implement social distancing measures and exclude symptomatic workers from working. Social distancing should include at least 6-feet between customers in the establishment. Workers symptomatic with respiratory illness or fever must not be in the business—no exceptions.
- Specifics for the food and beverage industry:
- Food Service: Dine-in operations are prohibited; takeout, curbside, pickup, drive-thru, delivery (including by third-party services), and mobile food (trucks/carts) are allowed with some modifications.
- Food Delivery: Drop service only.
- Grocery Stores and Cafeterias: Eliminate seating areas as well as any other opportunity to congregate.
- Salt Lake County Facilities:
Salt Lake County has closed the following facilities: senior centers, recreation centers, libraries, arts and cultural facilities, Equestrian Center, Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, the Salt Palace, and the Mountain America Expo Center. Closures are a way to prevent the Coronavirus outbreak. Salt Lake County is closely monitoring and evaluating the situation and will provide information as it becomes available.
- Health Department Orders:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures fact sheet.
Important Contact Information:
Salt Lake County (including Health Order):www.slco.org/covid-19/
State of Utah (including Health Directive):www.coronavirus.utah.gov
Federal: https://www.coronavirus.gov/
Coronavirus Info Line: 800-456-7707
Healthcare Workers: 888-374-8824
State Media Inquiries: 685-429-0015
Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
Salt Lake County Economic Development Business Hotline: 385-468-4011
SLCo Intergovernmental Liaison (Ryan Perry): 801-541-0539, rperry@slco.org
Utah Health Department Update:
April 8, 2020 7:30 am
Salt Lake County
Epidemiology:
- Confirmed cases: 807
- Deaths: 7
Utah
Epidemiology:
- Confirmed cases: 1,738
- 34,647 people tested (5% positive)
- 13 deaths (7 Salt Lake County ; 2 Utah County.; 2 Davis; 1 Weber-Morgan; 1 Southwest)
Resources:
- State Tax Deadlines Extended
- COVID-19 Guidance for Older (60+ Populations in Utah
- Special and Executive Orders
- Social Distancing Tips for Business
- State Clarifies Mass Gathering Instructions
United States
Epidemiology:
- 399,929 cases
- 12,911 deaths
Updates:
- CDC now recommending wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain (not N-95)
- CDC issued a travel advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to avoid nonessential travel for 2 weeks
- Global Level 4 Health Advisory: Do not travel; return home if overseas
Internationally
Epidemiology:
- See Johns Hopkins University data visualization for the most current case counts.
- Worldometers also has detailed international information.
For media inquiries, contact Shawn Stinson, 801-245-0106.
