Salt Lake County, five more to move to “moderate” transmission phase

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SALT LAKE CITY – Nearly a year after COVID-19 first arrived in Utah, six counties in the state, including the state’s most populous county, Salt Lake County, will move into the “moderate” transmission phase of the virus, KSL NewsRadio learned on Thursday.

Counties in the “moderate” transmission phase have no collection restrictions, as long as people wear masks.

Live listening: Governor Cox, a health official, holds his weekly press conference

During a weekly press conference, state government and health officials announced a reduction in age requirements and an expansion of the health conditions that vaccines meet.

Gov. Spencer Cox announced that Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Grand, Sanpete and Wasatch counties would go from “high” to “moderate” transmission levels in the state’s virus response plan. However, it also took a while to point out all the Utahns lost so far due to COVID-19.

“While we have been observing phenomenal progress in our metrics, I want to take a minute to remember that we have lost nearly 2,000 Utahns due to this insidious disease,” Cox said. “Those 2,000 people are really people, and for these families this is real and it’s tragic.”

Transmission levels change in Salt Lake, Davis and other counties

The Utah Department of Health uses a graduated transmission index to determine when locations such as Salt Lake County and the other five counties mentioned by the governor can ease COVID-19-related restrictions.

According to the system, a county has a high level of transmission when the average positivity percentage of 7 days is greater than or equal to 10%, its 14-day case rate exceeds 325 people per 100,000 inhabitants, the total amount of ICU utilization reaches 72% or more and the number of ICU beds used for COVID-19 specifically exceeds 15%.

“There are no restrictions on the concentration of moderates [counties]”That’s amazing news whenever people wear masks,” Cox said.

This means you can sit shoulder to shoulder with someone at a basketball game or movie theater, as long as the masks are in place.

At moderate levels of virus transmission, state guidelines allow residents to meet in person with no limits on the size of events, as long as people wear masks.

In addition to Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Grand, Sanpete, and Wasatch counties, Box Elder, Duchesne, Juab, Morgan, San Juan, Washington, and Weber counties now fall into the moderate transmission category.

“2.2 million Utahns now live in moderate transmission areas,” Cox said.

Only five counties in Utah, Daggett, Millard, Piute, Rich and Wayne, are considered low-transmission areas for COVID-19. The rest of the state’s counties continue to be considered “high” transmission zones.

Cases continue to fall

On Thursday, the Utah Department of Health reported 611 new cases of COVID-19 in the state of 7,286 people tested. The statewide seven-day percentage of positivity of “people on people” is 10.0% and the average seven-day percentage of positivity of “tests on tests” is 4.8%.

State health officials reported 203 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19. 12 more people have died from COVID-19, for a total of 1,965; however, two previously recorded deaths were removed from the totals and attributed to other causes, and seven of the 12 reported today occurred before February 11, 2021.

This story will be updated.

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How to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus spreads from person to person, similar to the common cold and flu. Therefore, to prevent it from spreading:

  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Don’t touch your face.
  • Use a mask to protect yourself and others according to CDC recommendations.
  • Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who coughs or sneezes (in this case, at least six feet).
  • If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (staying home, instead of going to the movies, sporting events, or other activities).
  • Get a flu shot.

Local resources

Questions and answers about KSL coronavirus

Utah coronavirus information

Utah State Board of Education

Utah Hospital Association

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Utah Coronavirus Information Line: 1-800-456-7707

National resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions, World Health Organization

Cases in the United States

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