Summit County officials are congratulating the community and local businesses for their response over the past month to the COVID-19 outbreak.
They say that enabled them to approve a revised Health Order that took effect Midnight May 1st, lifting the Stay At Home Order and allowing the economy to partly re-open.
But they’re telling citizens to stay vigilant and follow precautions to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus.
The county’s new Order changes the community’s status from High-Risk (Red) to Moderate Risk (Orange.)
At the same time, citizens are still advised to avoid unnecessary travel. Public and private gatherings are limited to 20 people. You are advised to maintain social distancing, and to wear a mask covering your nose and mouth when distancing is difficult to maintain.
At a special meeting Thursday where the County Council approved the revised order, Deputy County Attorney Dave Thomas said that some operations are still closed, such as hot tubs, leisure pools, spas, saunas, bike-share operations and dog parks.
“It allows all other businesses to open, subject to some specific protocols. There are some general business practices that all businesses are required to comply with under this proposed order. And then there are specific business categories that have an additional layer of protocols because of their unique natures, and possible risk of the coronavirus and the contagious nature of that virus.”
The county followed a framework for business protocols set by Gov. Herbert’s “Utah Leads Together 2.0.” With the state’s approval, Summit County followed that more in depth, with representatives of some 32 economic sectors working with the county’s stabilization task force to work out protocols.
Despite the county’s progress in dealing with the virus, Health Director Rich Bullough noted that we are surrounded by other areas where COVID cases are still surging.
While businesses are re-opening, he said a number of them don’t want to encourage tourists or out-of-county visitors.
“We are, I think, wise to suggest to people that unnecessary travel is discouraged. And unnecessary, in my view, is outside, travel outside of work. We have a lot of workers here that travel from other counties. I would view that as necessary travel. But if you’re considering coming here to recreate, we still have a small hospital. Our obligation still is to our residents.”
County Council Members said the public still has to be vigilant. Chairman Doug Clyde said one positive factor is that we’re facing this challenge during the town’s economic slow season.
“This will be a time in which we have a little bit of a grace period here. And we will be watching for compliance very closely. Because we will be dead---as a, financially as a community if we do not comply overall as county citizens.”
Council Member Glenn Wright voiced a similar warning.
“The battle’s not over. We’re gonna have to keep this up until there’s—at least a year until there’s a vaccine and everyone in our state and the nation and all our visitors are vaccinated. It’s a long battle ahead of us, so let’s keep us what we’re doing and see if we can get through this.”
Council Member Glenn Wright. Businesses or citizens with questions about compliance with the new order can call the county’s Community Concerns line at 435—333—0050.
