St. George Man Being Treated For COVID-19 Released From Utah Hospital

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A St. George man who was being treated for COVID-19 in Murray has been released from the hospital, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Health.

Mark Jorgensen and his wife, Jerri, were two of the thousands of people who were quarantined on a Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan after dozens tested positive for coronavirus. After testing positive for the virus, Jorgensen was transported back to Utah and treated at a self-contained unit at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

Although he has tested positive for COVID-19, Jorgensen has not shown any symptoms, according to authorities.

On Friday, the Utah Department of Health released Jorgensen from the hospital at the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is currently under a state-issued order to remain isolated from the community.

The order will be in place until he has two consecutive negative tests for COVID-19.

“We have made contact with this patient and have begun our monitoring procedures,” said David Blodgett, Southwest Utah Public Health Department health officer and director. “This patient does not post a risk to the public, and we will continue to work closely with local, state, and federal public health partners to address any future COVID-19 cases in our community.”

There are currently no laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Utah, said state epidemiologist Angela Dunn. However, officials do expect community spread at some point.

“We are ready and prepared for when that happens,” she said.

Coronavirus Resources  

If you’re worried about whether you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professional.  

Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL 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: staging.ksltv.com/432037/what-is-covid-19/  

Latest coronavirus stories from KSL can be found at staging.ksltv.com/coronavirus/.  

Where in the world has the coronavirus already appeared? See the map: staging.ksltv.com/?p=432035  

Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus: staging.ksltv.com/?p=432060  

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 is not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.  

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.