Thread by @UtahCoronavirus

Today’s daily briefing for Monday, May 11, 2020, is about to get started. We’ll start with @DrAngelaCDunn from @UtahDepOfHealth. It will be streamed live at facebook.com/govgaryherbert and en español at facebook.com/marcomunoz

For Monday, May 11, 2020:

Cumulative positive cases: 6,362 (+111)

Lab Tests: 150,585 total tests (+4,075)

Hospitalizations:
517 (Cumulative)
92 (Current)

Estimated recovered: 3,181 (Cumulative)

Deaths: 68 (+1 since yesterday)

We have been at orange/moderate risk since May 1.

We now have a hotline for people who need extra help or accessto resources.
1-877-424-4640

Q: Is there a target transmission number before an area can move to lower risk?

A: We recommend, generally, a transmission rate of under 1:1.25 before recommending a change.

Q: What is the science behind wearing a mask? What about single direction flow in stores?

A: Wearing a face covering prevents the spread of droplets.

In stores, a single direction of flow is helping maintain social distancing. Please follow those guidelines.

Q: What are recommendations for family or roommates of people who test positive?

A: Ideally, the person who tests positive should stay in their own room and own bathroom. Everyone in the home should wear masks and should stay home until all feel well.

Q: Talk about transmission rates.

A: We need to have a rate that is less than 1. That means that on average, a sick person transmits the disease to less than 1 person. We still need to do social distancing and keep our hands clean.

Q: What is our transmission rate?

A: Our models show 1.1 to 1.3 transmission rates.

Q: How many strike teams have been deployed?

A: One team to Utah County to a long term care facility and one to the Navajo Nation to help with testing.

Q: Where are we in flattening the curve?

A: We have maintained a plateau for a couple of weeks. We need to start seeing a drop in cases. But we are working to act more quickly to test and treat people who need it.

Q: What about people who say the state should completely reopen, and that COVID hasn’t been as bad as earlier thought?

A: This is still a health crisis. We are in a good space because of social distancing measures. We need to end the pandemic as soon as possible.

A: We need to protect health and the economy.

We can’t compare COVID to influenza. It’s a different virus, there isn’t a dedicated treatment or vaccine. We can’t predict COVID spread like we can with influenza.

Q: How many downloads of the Healthy Together App?

A: About 40,000 downloads.

Q: How many deaths? What do they mean for us?

A: Death is the most tragic outcome of this virus. About half of our deaths are from long term care facilities.

Q: Are we learning anything from antibody testing?

A: We don’t have anything conclusive yet.

Q: Are counties moving to yellow/low risk?

A: Not currently.

Q: In St. George, the case rates increased recently. What is going on there?

A: We are working to identify the reason for that surge and supporting @SWUHEALTH.

The briefing has concluded for May 11, 2020.