Uintah County issued the following statement on the closure of the City of Fun Carnival after its opening on Thursday: “City of Fun Carnival contacted Western Park in Vernal on June 11th to find out if the facility was available and interested in hosting the carnival this year. Western Park manager Derk Hatch confirmed the facility’s availability and advised the carnival operator that she would need to meet all conditions set by TriCounty Health Department, Vernal City, and Uintah County to prevent the spread of COVID-19 before being allowed to use the venue. On June 17th, City of Fun Carnival submitted an event plan to TriCounty Health Department because Uintah County was still in the “Yellow” phase of the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan at the time. Requirements for fencing around the event, face coverings for employees, physical distancing while waiting in lines, and sanitation of rides were detailed in the plan. On June 19th, Governor Gary Herbert moved Uintah County to the “Green” phase of the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan. On June 25, the carnival opened at Western Park and was operating under the requirements outlined in the June 17th event plan, according to Hatch. Later in the evening of June 25th, the Utah Department of Health notified TriCounty Health that at least nine carnival employees had tested positive for COVID-19. The county has learned that these individuals were tested on June 18th in American Fork, Utah, prior to coming to Vernal. Their positive test results were not reported until June 25th. The county and TriCounty Health immediately closed the carnival upon learning of the positive test results.” All that attended the carnival have been asked to actively monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested if symptoms present, practice physical distancing, wear a face mask in public, and avoid contact with high risk individuals. Western Park will continue to host events this summer and visitors to those events are encouraged to use common sense. “There are risks associated with many of the things we do every day,” Uintah County Commission Chairman Brad Horrocks said. “It is up to individuals to personally decide what amount of risk is acceptable for them or take steps to reduce the risks.”
