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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Thursday nine more counties will move into the green, or new normal health risk status, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Uintah and Wayne counties will join Kane County — which became the first county in Utah to transition to the green phase last week — starting on Friday at 1 p.m., according to an executive order from the governor.
“Limiting the spread of the coronavirus, even as we reactivate the economy, has required data-informed judgment and prudent decision making,” Herbert said in a prepared statement announcing the order. “As we move from stabilization to recovery, the health guidance in our communities will vary because of differing conditions across the state.”
The counties scheduled to go green each have roughly around 20 or less cases reported, with zero cases in Daggett and Wayne counties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the counties account for a large geographical portion of the state, they only make up about 3% of Utah's total population, Herbert noted.
"Although no area is completely free from risk, we feel comfortable having these sparsely populated regions transition from Yellow to Green," Herbert said. “I continue to be very concerned, however, about the potential threat to hospital capacity from the increasing case counts in our more densely populated regions As we re-engage economically, we need greater personal responsibility, not less.”
Herbert emphasized the importance of continuing social distancing, wearing a mask, and maintaining good hygiene practices like staying home when sick and regularly washing hands.
“Utah residents must continue to keep one another safe through common-sense physical distancing, mask wearing, staying home when sick, and regular hand washing,” Herbert said.
While cases remain low in some parts of the state, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Utah has continued to rise.
On Thursday, the second-highest single-day increase in new cases was reported at 495, with three new deaths — something health officials called "sobering."
The full language of the order will be released on Friday when it goes into effect.
