Herbert: “I know this is the Thanksgiving month and I know its sometimes hard to find things we’re thankful for, particularly in 2020.” Still lots to be grateful for. Never been better time to be alive and in Utah. Let’s be grateful for what we have. #utpol
Herbert: “I’m thankful for the media.”
(No, really, he said that.)
We want you to have a happy and safe holiday season, so we’re making some modifications to our public health order regarding who can gather in a household, but give guidance on how to minimize risk. #utpol
Herbert: More people gathered closely and the longer they’re together, the greater the risk. So you should gather only with members of your own home. Those coming from out of town bring more risk. (Don’t think there are a lot of places with more risk than Utah, but 🤷🏻♂️.) #utpol
Herbert: Should wear masks and distance. Try to keep it shorter. Do it outside if you can. Have good ventilation. Hygiene is important. “This is not a normal Thanksgiving time.” Recommendations are at coronavirus.utah.gov/holidays
Winslow: Do you think people will heed your advice? What if they don’t and cases surge?
Herbert: I think people are heeding advice of the medical experts. I’m just the spokesperson. Maybe everyone won’t listen, but if some do, “we’ll have a better time” than if we don’t. #utpol
Herbert: Mask mandate will be extended. “The science is clear it helps slow the spread.” Reduces risk by about 70%. With the statewide mandate, data shows people are more mobile and it has a positive effect on the economy. #utpol
Order that only people in a household can eat together is being lifted. That order will be ready to be presented by Monday.
Mullahy: What do you say to those who think the orders go too far? Why are case counts going up? #utpol
Herbert: We look around the country and nobody has an explanation. Variety of approaches and nothings working. People point at S.Dakota, but they have third-highest death rate in the world. NY had high death rate early and starting to shut things down again. #utpol
Herbert: Is Utah's the right formula? I don’t know. It’s one formula.
This is what science tells us. We’re not mandating what people do in their homes. We don’t want people smoking in their homes, either. This is similar.
Herbert: “We’re giving the best advice medical science has … and we’d be derelict if we did not pass it onto you.”
Q. Do colleges/universities have enough tests?
Herbert: We have about 4,000 tests. Would like to get to 250,000/week. #utpol
Herbert: Believes in next two weeks will have a program where those in dorms can be tested at least every other week.
Q. Criticism from sheriffs on discussing enforcement?
Herbert: “I haven’t been invited.” Appreciates law enforcement. #utpol
Herbert: We can debate policies, but there’s not debate — BYU study and others — that if you wear a mask you slow the spread. Hopes people do it for the right reasons. U. study shows masks help economy. It’s about changing behavior. #utpol
Q. Have you communicated about COVID with Biden admin?
Herbert: Conference call scheduled later today (It’s a National Govs Association call). Curious to hear what he has to say. Know his concern is we come together to fight coronavirus and follow the science. #utpol
Herbert: Hopes he continues to let states make their own policies. Hopes he talks about making economic aid package available.
Utah’s economy is doing very well. One of the best.
Right now positivity rates are too high. More testing helps us find people, isolate them and bring positives down. Now ICU units are overwhelmed and about a third are Covid patients.
🌡 4,588 new cases, 170,584 total
😔 17 new deaths 773 total
🏥 533 currently hospitalized, down 2
🧪 18,738 people tested, 24.5% positive rate
📈 7-day avg: 3,331 cases/day, 23.6% positive rate. #utpol
@UtahDepOfHealth That’s a new single-day record for cases (if we back out the 1,300 from last week’s reporting anomaly). It’s a new record for cases, a record for deaths for the week (72, first time over 70).
Here is the info on the 17 Utahns who died. #utpol
@UtahDepOfHealth We’ve got 533 patients in hospitals, 186 of them in ICUs. Referral ICUs are 93.8% full, a new record and still climbing. 759 admissions in the past week, which is a record.
🌡 3,968 new cases, 165,996 total
😔 18 new deaths (2 removed) 756 total
🏥 535 currently hospitalized, down 6
🧪 17,705 people tested, 22.4% positive rate
📈 7-day avg: 3,163 cases/day, 23.7% positive rate. #utpol
@UtahDepOfHealth That is an alarming number of dead. It’s a new record number of cases for a Thursday, but up just 49 from last week with a record number of tests.
Here is the info on the 18 dead and the two removed for further investigation. #utpol
@UtahDepOfHealth There are currently 195 patients in ICU beds, down 11 from yesterday’s number. Referral ICU’s currently 91.5% full. Reminder, at 85% capacity Utah is “functionally out of staffed ICU beds.”
There were 108 new admissions and we are averaging 104/day for the past week. #utpol
Also, I don’t know if this is #3 or maybe 1a: There are doubts, if it is violated and an attempt is made to enforce it, that it would hold up in court. #utpol
I’d heard about the caucus position yesterday but couldn’t get it nailed down enough to include it in today’s column, which discusses the pushback the governor gets from conservative legislators when he tries to enact Covid safeguards. #utpol
🌡 1,971 new cases, 155,779 total
😔 5 new deaths, 723 total
🏥 503 currently hospitalized, up 19 from yesterday
🧪 9,523 people tested, 20.7% positive rate
📈 7-day avg: 2,949 cases/day, 24.26% positive rate.
@UtahDepOfHealth Happy to report, for the first time in a long time, this is NOT a new Monday record, down 276 from last week. Number of tests also up from last week, positivity down (but still too high).
We did set a new record for the week in deaths at 62. #utpol
Here is the info on those five Utahns who died:
• Box Elder male, age 65-84
• SLCo male, 45-64
• SLCo male, 85+
• Utah Co female, 65-84
• Wash Co female, 85+ #utpol