CORONAVIRUS

New Case Of COVID-19 In Summit County Confirms Community Spread In Utah

Mar 14, 2020, 9:18 AM | Updated: Jun 22, 2022, 6:10 pm

FILE...

FILE

SALT LAKE CITY — A new case of COVID-19 in Summit County marks the first instance of community spread of the disease in the state, according to officials with the Utah Department of Health.

The announcement was made Saturday morning.

“Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown,” UDOH said in a press release.

Officials said the patient is a male between the ages of 18 and 60. He had no history of travel and no known contact with another COVID-19 patient. He is a Summit County resident and an employee at the Spur Bar and Grill, working as a door man. He reportedly told his employers when he was experiencing symptoms.

“This is the first case of community transmission in Utah, and it reinforces the importance of all the community mitigation efforts we’ve been talking about for the past several weeks,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist for the UDOH. “Everyone needs to continue to do their part: Stay home if you are sick, keep your kids home if they are sick, and practice good hygiene to avoid sharing your germs to others.”

The biggest risk appeared to be with his co-workers, as they typically had employee meetings before the store opened.

“The patient’s employer has been extremely cooperative, and willingly closed last night to conduct a thorough cleaning of the establishment,” Dr. Bullough said. “We have identified the case’s co-workers and are working to contact and interview all of them. While we don’t believe there is a high risk to patrons of the bar, if you have visited the Spur Bar and Grill since March 6 you should monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.”

The patient was recovering at his home in Summit County.

“While we haven’t yet put in any formalize travel restrictions, I do recommend that if you have the option of not traveling to Summit County, it is probably wise to not do so at this point in time. We do know that we have community spread, that increases the risk of transmission. That is not formal policy, by any means, but I think prudent on the part of an individual,” said Dr. Bullough.

UDOH officials were working with the Summit County Health Department to see if there are other people that the patient came into contact with. Those individuals will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.

“Residents of Summit County should be assured that we are doing everything within our means to protect their health,” said Thomas C. Fisher, Summit County Manager. “On Thursday, Dr. Bullough and I signed local emergency declarations in anticipation of the very situation we have announced this morning. These declarations were not made lightly and will allow us to utilize emergency resources to combat the spread of COVID-19. Summit County, our municipalities and our other community partners are prepared and ready.”

Governor Gary Herbert urged Utahns to continue following the social distancing procedures and good hygiene practices to help slow the spread of the virus.

Coronavirus Resources

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What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy

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How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

  • Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

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New Case Of COVID-19 In Summit County Confirms Community Spread In Utah