45 Cases Of COVID-19 Confirmed In Salt Lake County Correctional Facilities

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Officials with the Utah Coronavirus Task Force said 45 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Salt Lake County correctional facilities.

Of the 45 cases confirmed Thursday, 27 were inmates and 18 were staff members, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn with the Utah Department of Health.

“The Salt Lake County Health Department has been doing excellent work in working with our correctional facilities to address these cases and prevent further spread,” she said.

Specifically, Dunn said inmates are screened twice a day for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone showing symptoms is isolated based on public health guidelines.

Employees at correctional facilities have been using personal protection equipment each day and they are screened for symptoms before each shift.

There have been 45 people associated with correctional facilities test positive for #COVID19 – 27 inmates and 18 staff. All of these have been in Salt Lake County. Procedures have been implemented at all facilities to reduce risk. #UtahCOVID19

— Utah.gov (@UtahGov) April 23, 2020

Dunn added inmates are quarantined for 14 days before leaving any facility and crews are using heightened cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

The announcement came after the state’s total number of cases rose by 167 to 3,612. One new virus-related death was reported Thursday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 35.

Over 80,000 tests have been performed and state officials estimate 1,050 people have recovered from the virus.

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Coronavirus Resources

• 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.

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.