Salt Lake County considering “shelter in place”
Mar 25, 2020, 8:38 AM | Updated: Mar 26, 2020, 7:00 am
SL County says they have not ruled out a county-wide shelter-in-place order to stop the spread of COVID-19 Photoshopped image from UDOT
SALT LAKE CITY– The rules could get a lot stricter in Salt Lake County to stop the spread of coronavirus as county officials consider a shelter in place order.
The County Council and Mayor are considering whether to have mandatory “stay-at-home” orders.
They spoke in Tuesday’s meeting about how such action could stop the spread of coronavirus faster and were considering getting law enforcement to help.
Mayor Jenny Wilson says she’s working with the District Attorney’s Office on a ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.
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First-time offenders would get a verbal warning. Officers would issue a written warning on a 2nd offense, and a citation for subsequent offenses.
Governor Herbert last week said he was keeping that at a recommendation, not an order.
Wilson says she isn’t ruling out a shelter in place. The council will get more data in the coming days about the number of ICU beds available, compared to projected cases. They hope the modeling shows whether these stronger measures would forcefully flatten the curve faster.
“I suppose it’s possible once we get to the next phase of our modeling, which is just in the next day or two, we might be making a phone call to say we want to do something differently,” Wilson said. “We just have not had the critical, measurable factors to get us there yet.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Utah had nearly 300 confirmed cases, though still just one death.
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus is transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
- Get a flu shot.
Local resources
State of Utah: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
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
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization
