Utah - COVID-19 Covered

Utah

Total Cases: 1,090,346 (March 10)
Fatalities: 5,298 (March 10)
Testing:
  • You can find your closest Utah COVID-19 testing site here. 

ECONOMIC RESPONSE

Essential Service Designations:

  • The following are being considered exempt to Governor Herbert’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive: health care professionals, law enforcement officers and first responders, faith leaders and workers, charitable and social services organizations, including workers supporting organizations that provide food, shelter, prescription delivery, mental health and substance abuse treatments, and other social services, as well as other necessities of life for individuals in need of such services, older adults who live alone, people with disabilities, and those who need assistance as a result of this emergency. (March 27) 

Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:

  • The Utah Economic Recovery Task Force launched a “Stay Safe to Stay Open” campaign, designed to help business owners learn the best ways to protect themselves from the virus while they keep their doors open. (Link)  
  • The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced new guidelines to help farmers markets remain open this year amid COVID-19 concerns. (April 22)  

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

  • Governor Herbert signed a bill allocating $62 million from the CARES Act to Utah residents affected by COVID-19. (June 29)  
  • Utah is receiving nearly $6.2 million in federal funding to help older adults and people with disabilities affected by the pandemic. (April 21)  

Business Support & Resources:

  • Governor Herbert announced the launch of a new $2 million Small Business Quarantined Employee grant for small businesses in Utah. (October 1)  
  • The Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced the COVID-19 Commercial Rental Assistance Program to provide relief to small businesses that rent commercial property. (May 6)  
  • Governor Herbert announced the launch of the “PPE Push Pack” program to support small businesses in the transition to “moderate risk” COVID-19 protocols. (May 6)  
  • The Utah Legislature approved a bill Thursday that would protect landlords and businesses from lawsuits brought forward by people exposed to COVID-19. (April 23)  
  • Utah launched its Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, available to those who were previously ineligible for traditional unemployment benefits. (April 15)  
  • Utah has also received approval to submit loan applications for disaster loans through the Small Business Administration. SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in economic support for small businesses and non-profits. (Utah.gov)  
  • In addition to the SBA disaster loans being made available, Salt Lake City set up an emergency loan program for small businesses of up to $20,000 at 0 percent interest.(Utah.gov)

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Reopening:

  • The Utah State Legislature passed its “COVID-19 endgame,” which would terminate state mandated limits on gatherings and social distancing. It would also end local orders requiring such mandates in Salt Lake City and Grand County. Exceptions include: 
  • State-owned facilities have a mask mandate until May 31. After that, each agency would decide whether to continue with a mask requirement. 
  • A mask mandate would remain in effect for all K-12 schools across the state until June 15. 
  • Private businesses would still be able to require masks and physical distancing. (May 4) 
  • Utah has ended its statewide mask mandate. (April 10) 
  • The Utah Department of Public Health published a timeline for vaccine distribution, which can be found here. 
  • Salt Lake County announced it would reopen its senior centers on April 19. (March 30) 
  • Beginning March 25, all Utah residents 16 years of age and older will be eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. (March 18) 
  • Governor Cox announced that residents 50 years of age and older would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 8. (March 4) 
  • Governor Cox announced that any Utah resident 16 years of age or older with pre-existing conditions would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. (February 25) 
  • Governor Cox announced that people age 65 and older would now be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. (February 22) 
  • The Utah Department of Public Health established new requirements for individuals who are not state employees entering the Capitol complex, including that the individual be free of any COVID-19 symptoms and have a body temperature lower than 100.4 degrees. (January 22) 
  • The Utah Department of Public Health extended existing statewide restrictions to February 22, including mask requirements and restrictions on high school extracurricular activities, among others. (January 21) 
  • Residents over age 70 with no preexisting conditions would be eligible to make appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning January 21. (January 15) 
  • Governor Herbert lifted the 10:00PM curfew for selling alcohol at restaurants and bars. (December 18) 
  • The Utah Department of Public Health ordered social distancing guidelines of six feet in all public areas and required all employees and contractors at a place of business to wear face masks. Bar occupancy rates were reduced to 75 percent, and bars were required stop serving after 10:00PM. (November 24) 
  • Governor Hebert declared a new State of Emergency to address hospital overcrowding across the state. (November 9) 
  • Governor Herbert announced a new COVID-19 response plan. (October 14) 
  • Governor Herbert extended the order requiring face coverings to be worn in all state facilities. (September 4) 

SCHOOL PLANNING

K-12:

  • Utah’s State Board of Education released “three phases of recovery” for Utah’s schools; details can be found here. 
  • The state’s K-12 school mask requirement has been extended to June 15. (January 21) 
  • Participants of high school sports or extracurricular activities would be required to either provide a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14 days. (November 24) 

State Higher Education:

  • A list of Utah universities and colleges planning to reopen in the fall can be found here. 
  • The Utah Department of Health has ordered that public universities or private universities with more than 10,000 shall require all students who attend at least on class on campus to get tested for COVID-19 at least every 14 days, beginning January 1, 2021. (November 24) 

Giving Opportunities

April 20, 2020

Requesting N95 masks (10,800,000), isolation gowns (4,300,000), surgical masks (33,800,000), face shields (10,800,000), medical grade goggles (3,500,000) and other personal protective equipment. 

Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at [email protected]