© 2024 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wasatch County Reports Second Highest Single-Day Total of COVID-19 Cases

Wasatch County Health Department

Wasatch County reported 11 new cases, Wednesday, which is the highest number the county has seen since the beginning of June when they reported 12 new cases in one day. 

Chris Smoot is the epidemiologist at Wasatch County Health Department. He said there are multiple unknown factors at play with this new rise in cases. 

“So our preliminary information does not appear to show that there's any one particular event or facility or anything like that that's driving this. The theme is more of an uptick, just community wide,” Smoot said. “We have had a few families that have had the whole household test positive so that's contributed as well. But we have definitely seen just a broader uptick in cases.”

 

Credit Wasatch County Health Department
Graph of COVID-19 Cases in Wasatch County Since the Start of the Pandemic.

 

And Smoot said the new cases aren’t from just one age group, but now there are more young people testing positive. 

“So we have had some students, both public school students, and then some college students as well, maybe a little more represented in these numbers than in the past,” he said.

Earlier this week, Utah Governor Gary Herbert said he wouldn’t issue a statewide mask mandate. And Smoot said right now Wasatch County isn’t looking to move forward with a mask mandate either. 

 

“We are still trying to encourage the community to provide them the best education we can on why mask use is helpful and how it can be beneficial to those around  us to try to minimize the spread and keep us going, keep our economy running, keep people healthy,” he said. 

Smoot said residents in Wasatch should continue to follow safety measures like social distancing, washing hands and staying home when they feel sick.

 

Jessica joins KPCW as a general assignment reporter and Sunday Weekend Edition host. A Florida native, she graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in English — concentrating in film studies — and journalism. Before moving to Utah, she spent time in Atlanta, GA.
Related Content