Utah leaders chance tactics to fight COVID, urge sick to stay home instead of test

With the spike in cases and a huge demand for testing, today Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced some temporary changes that he hopes will slow the spread. Cox also said, if you have symptoms, do not get tested. Stay home, isolate for five days and assume you have COVID-19.

He joined health and state advisors at the capitol today to lay out his latest tactic against omicron.

“Our response to COVID-19 needs to change as the virus has changed,” Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said.

The latest lates omicron surge is impacting all aspects of Utahns lives. In schools, since Christmas Day, Cox said new COVID-19 cases increased from 1200 to 9500 a day. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Sydnee Dickson said the stress on school staffing has been tremendous.

“Recently one school district in Utah saw  nearly one out of every six of it’s full-time employees absent for health or other reasons,” Dickson said.

Daily COVID-19 testing has gone up from 19,000 to almost 48,000. With a delay in getting their normal supply of tests, Cox said that has led to people having to wait hours in line to get tested.

“Every single Industry we’re struggling to find employees and that is true in testing as well.”

Until more tests arrive, Cox announced some temporary changes. Test-to-Stay program will be put on hold.

And if you have symptoms, do not get tested. Stay home, isolate for five days and assume you have COVID-19.

“On day six if you’re feeling better and you don’t have a fever it’s reasonable to go back into society wearing a mask for another five days,” Dr. Leisha Nolen, State Epidemiologist said.

It’s an approach Cox hopes will help Utahns reach the peak of omicron in the coming weeks.

“I am more optimistic that I have been at any point in this pandemic that with omicron spreading so rapidly that will help us move on.”