Nine Utah Counties To Move To Green Status

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A new executive order from Governor Gary Herbert will allow nine rural counties to move into the Green health risk status starting Friday afternoon.

The order affects Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Uintah and Wayne counties.

Herbert also approved the move to green last week for Kane County. Ten of Utah’s 29 counties are now in the Green Health Risk category.

“Limiting the spread of the coronavirus, even as we reactivate the economy, has required data-informed judgment and prudent decision making,” Herbert said. “As we move from stabilization to recovery, the health guidance in our communities will vary because of differing conditions across the state.”

Herbert also said while the counties represent a large portion of Utah geographically, the move only affects three percent of the state’s population.

“They also have some of Utah’s lowest case counts and hospitalization rates,” he said. “The rural lifestyle they enjoy is defined by wider physical distancing, and smaller, less densely populated towns. Although no area is completely free from risk, we feel comfortable having these sparsely populated regions transition from Yellow to Green.”

Thursday’s announcement comes on the same day as the health department released the second-highest one day increase of COVID-19 cases with 495 new diagnoses.

However, Herbert said he is “very concerned” about the potential threat to hospital capacity due to the increasing case counts in more populated areas. “As we re-engage economically, we need greater personal responsibility, not less. Utah residents must continue to keep one another safe through common-sense physical distancing, mask-wearing, staying home when sick and regular hand washing.”

The official language of the order will be released Friday, when the order goes into effect at 1 p.m.