Salt Lake County Issues COVID-19 Public Health Order

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A public health order has been issued by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and the Salt Lake County Health Department to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The order, called “Salt Lake County: Stay Safe. Stay Home,” goes into effect Monday, March 30 at 12:01 a.m. and last through April 13.

“This order complements both the governor’s directive and the intent of Salt Lake City’s current order,” Wilson said. “Our collective goal is to save lives and keep our health system from being overwhelmed. Reducing opportunities for people to congregate is one of the most important things we can do to help ‘flatten the curve’ and minimize stress on our healthcare system. This order strikes the right balance between public and economic health by prohibiting only the business practices most concerning when it comes to transmission of COVID-19.”

Under the order, individuals in the county are directed to stay home except to engage in essential activities.

The intent of this Public Order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their homes or places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible.

— Salt Lake County (@SLCoGov) March 29, 2020

Places of public amusement, including gyms, playgrounds, aquariums, concert halls or venues, movie theaters and bowling alleys in the county are closed under the order.

Team sports, including pickup games, are prohibited and individuals should maintain a six-foot distance from others while using recreational amenities.

Additionally, the order closes all county hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, day spas, tattoo parlors, massage establishments and tanning facilities.

Businesses are required to actively enforce social distancing practices and exclude ill employees from working.

“It is imperative that every individual and family in the county do their part to maintain physical distance from others in the community,” said Gary Edwards, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department. “The degree to which community members follow this order will directly determine how well Salt Lake County weathers this outbreak.”

Health officials emphasized foodservice establishments must continue to follow the state’s previous health order, which closed all dine-in operations on March 21.

County officials said local municipalities have been asked to enforce the public health order initially with warnings, rather than citations.

Violating public health orders can result in a Class B misdemeanor for the initial violation, and officials said repeat or egregious offenders may be cited and charged.

To be clear:
If a business is NOT in the "CLOSED" section (in red), it IS ALLOWED to be open; but employees and patrons should practice social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times, and employees should never work while ill. #SLCo pic.twitter.com/WxguZjLpPY

— Salt Lake Health (@SaltLakeHealth) March 30, 2020

With the county’s order in place, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she will repeal the city’s order and sign a new one focusing on city-specific issues.

More information: https://t.co/KXGiPbFjcR #utpol #slc

— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) March 30, 2020

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Coronavirus Resources

See the latest information from the Utah Coronavirus Task Force here.

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV 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
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

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 are 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.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.