Utah To Get Rapid Result COVID-19 Testing Machines

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the number of COVID-19 cases grows so do the number of people being tested for the disease.

Governor Gary Herbert said Utah is now getting machines that can get test results quicker.

“We have 15 of those machines on their way to Utah. We’re grateful for that,” Hebert announced during his daily COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday.

However, he said more test kits will be needed before the machines can make a significant impact on testing.

“That only allows us to test about a hundred more individuals,” Herbert said. “One hundred is all. That’s really kind of a drop in the bucket.”

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RELATED: LIVE Updates From The Utah Coronavirus Task Force

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The new tests come from Abbot Laboratories.

“This is a new breakthrough,” he said. “We think there’s going to be others.”

The governor also said he will have more information in the coming days about what the state is doing to continue to increase its testing capacity.

President Donald Trump talked about the Abbot Laboratories tests during a press conference where he extended the voluntary national shutdown through April.

Herbert said Utah tested 4,000 people Monday, the most tested in one day so far.

“Testing and tracking and tracing are going to continue to be at the top of our list of needs”, Hebert said.

He also said the state is getting closer to its goal of testing 7,000 people a day.

“I plan over the next day or two to give you more information on what we are doing to ramp up our testing,” Herbert said.

The state confirmed 84 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and said a fifth person has died from the disease.

Herbert asked Utahns to stay vigilant with social distancing and hand washing.

“Let me just repeat what I said yesterday the next two weeks are critical,” he said. “We want you to stay safe, stay home.”

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Coronavirus Resources

See the latest information from the Utah Coronavirus Task Force here.

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

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 face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.