Men’s Resource Center Transforms Into Quarantine Facility; 4 COVID-19 Cases In Homeless Population

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – Salt Lake County leaders on Friday announced the men’s resource center will operate strictly as a quarantine facility after a second case of COVID-19 was confirmed there.

The men’s homeless shelter, operated by Road Home will no longer accept new clients and all clients currently inside the center will be tested for the coronavirus.

According to Katherine Fife, the director of programs and partnerships for Salt Lake County, as of Friday morning, there have been two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in unsheltered homelessness and another two confirmed cases in sheltered homelessness.

County leaders on Thursday announced a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the men’s resource center, located in South Salt Lake. However, later that evening, a second confirmed case at the center was identified in a separate dormitory than the first.

The first positive case was for an individual older than 60, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said. He was transported to the hospital for treatment and testing as soon as he began showing symptoms. After the man was taken to the hospital, the county health department began an investigation to assess the potential risk to others at the center, Wilson said.

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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.  

How To Get Help  

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, go to TestingUtah.com to schedule a test, or contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth service 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.