TriCounty Health Officer Jordan Mathis provided a COVID-19 update on Tuesday during the Give’m Health segment on Eagle Country 105.5 FM KLCY. Mathis shared that there were 2 new local cases over the weekend and it’s possible that there will be more from these cases due to potential infections in the homes. So COVID-19 is still here and it is increasing across the state. Part of the increase has been outbreaks in workplaces but even when those aren’t counted there is still a steady increase in numbers. On May 25th, the percent average of positives of those being tested for COVID-19 in Utah was 4.94 percent. That almost doubled by June 4th when the average jumped to 9 percent. On May 25th, cases per 100,000 in population were at 69.2 and by June 6th, cases per 100,000 in population jumped to 109. While there has been an increase in hospitalizations, they are not currently overwhelming hospitals. “We need to see a slow burn, a manageable burn of the virus going through our community,” explained Mathis. “What I want our community to remember is we haven’t had a lot of [spread] so we are fresh kindling. We know all that it takes is a little bit to take off. We’ve seen it in other communities in the state.” Mathis also had a message for business owners and why it is important that they continue to follow state guidelines. “When it takes off,” shared Mathis, “ this virus by itself, without any government intervention, has the ability to close down small businesses [and] large businesses. We are seeing this in areas of the state where they are being hit hard. Businesses have to close because all their employees are sick or on quarantine due to exposure…” Following guidelines are important. He noted that if employees wear face coverings and they were exposed to COVID-19 it moves them to the low-risk category which means they are on symptom watch rather than automatic quarantine. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the TriCounty area is recorded at 21 with Uintah County listing 12 and 9 as Recovered, and Duchesne County listing 9 and 8 as Recovered. The estimated tests conducted in the tri-county area is listed as 4,067.
