SALT LAKE CITY – Utah could be a few weeks away from lifting long-term health restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The account, nicknamed the “COVID-19 Finals”, will order public health cessation once the state meets certain criteria for virus cases, hospitalizations and vaccinations. At the moment, the latest figures show that Utah has met two of the three most critical under the law.
“We’re probably three weeks, maybe four weeks away,” House Speaker Brad Wilson of R-Kaysville said in an interview with FOX 13 on Wednesday.
House Bill 294, which last week put an end to the mandate for the whole mask, would also remove restrictions on the size of the gatherings and the enforcement of physical distance. The state legislature of Utah passed the bill earlier this year. While Governor Spencer Cox was somewhat critical of it, but signed it because he negotiated with the legislature on some of its provisions, especially with the mask mandate.
Under the law, health orders begin to end once Utah achieves a 14-day fall below 191 per 100,000 people; when ICU hospitalization averages less than 15%, specifically for virus patients; and when 1.63 million people receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
On Wednesday, Utah’s case was 173.4; the ICU rate for COVID patients was 10.1%; and vaccination was 1.1 million people with prime doses.
Angela George, FOX 13 News
“The state is making great progress in meeting the criteria set forth in HB294. We have complied with the cases and ICU usage statistics and are still making progress in achieving the primary doses allocated,” the Utah Department of Health said. said in a statement to FOX 13. “We are closely monitoring these statistics and will be ready to work with the appropriate elected leaders to adjust the rate if necessary.”
This is promising news, but Speaker Wilson still called for caution.
“We are grateful that the news is getting better every week in terms of our number. But we still need to be careful. There are members of our community who have not yet had the opportunity to get a vaccine they want,” he said. he said. “We need to be mindful of and respect the people until they get the chance.”
Until more people are vaccinated, the governor and health officials have urged people to continue wearing masks in the public sphere. Cox Government issues order face covering required in all state-owned facilities such as liquor stores, driver’s license offices and Capitol Hill. Salt Lake Mayor Jenny Wilson has issued one for all facilities in the county. Grand County and Salt Lake City have introduced new mask mandates.
Senate minority whip Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said it was good news.
“People are being vaccinated. The response is good. But you still have pockets,” she told FOX 13 on Wednesday. “Especially in my district on the west side of Salt Lake City and West Valley City, where vaccination rates are extremely low.”
Sen. Escamilla said that in some communities with particularly low incomes and services, the vaccine percentages are up to 20%, compared to other parts of Utah, where it is up to 60%. She strives to vaccinate clinics late at night or on Sundays in neighborhoods where people often work two or three jobs and cannot take time to find work.
“It worries me that we feel too relaxed, we could end up with another upsurge,” Senator Escamilla warned. “I’m glad the numbers still look positive.”
Meanwhile, the Utah legislature is planning a special session next month to spend $ 1.5 billion on federal government COVID-19 emergency funds. The state as a whole will receive about $ 8 billion, Speaker Wilson said.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said they were likely to spend the money on infrastructure projects, including transportation and expanding Internet access across the state.
“We’re looking for things that move the needle and may have an impact on generations, things we could not have done otherwise,” he told FOX 13.
There is talk of legislation introducing COVID accounts in the special session. One idea being discussed will lift the mandate of the whole mask that applies to all K-12 schools. However, President Adams has expressed a desire for COVID legislation.
“At the moment, I think we might just have to take a deep breath and celebrate that we are the best economy in the whole country and that we are taking out vaccines,” he said. “We have almost 40-50% of our population with first vaccinations.”