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SALT LAKE CITY — If you were startled by an emergency alert message Monday afternoon, Salt Lake County officials say it wasn’t a mistake.
Thousands of Utahns received a message about 2 p.m., which stated: "Salt Lake County COVID-19 Update. Stay Home, Stay Safe Order extended through May 1. All Salt Lake County residents should avoid unnecessary travel and should stay home. Monitor CDC and Salt Lake County Health Department websites for latest information."
That may have left people confused because Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson had already announced on Thursday that the county’s order, which enforces Gov. Gary Herbert’s state directive, would be extended through May 1.
A spokesperson for Salt Lake County told KSL.com that the county has the authority to send alert messages through to the 1.1 million county residents; however, some people living outside of the county reported they had received the message.
"I don’t live in your county. I don’t need your PSA," one person tweeted.
As questions arose online, Salt Lake County Emergency Management explained on Twitter: "Today’s Public Safety Alert was sent to remind residents of the extended May 1st order expiration, as the original "Stay Safe, Stay Home" order was set to expire today."
Today’s Public Safety Alert was sent to remind residents of the extended May 1st order expiration, as the original “Stay Safe, Stay Home” order was set to expire today.
— SLCo Emergency Mngt. (@SLCoEmerMngt) April 13, 2020
COVID-19 alerts have already caused some headaches for Utahns. State officials announced Monday they canceled mobile travel alerts just days after they were instituted because they said the messages went to many people who shouldn't have received them.
Instead, state officials said they will use electronic Utah Department of Transportation highway signs to ask people to voluntarily fill out a travel declaration at entry.utah.gov.
