In an effort to help healthcare providers preserve the existing supply of personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, all non-essential medical, dental and veterinary procedures in the state have been restricted, starting March 25 and going until April 25.
The announcement was made in a press release from Gov. Gary Herbert's office on Tuesday afternoon. In the release, Herbert stated that this action was to help "protect our front-line doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers and ensure they stay healthy and able to care for patients."
Herbert stated in the release that he knows that while elective surgeries may be non-essential, he is aware that people will be inconvenienced by this action.
"As we look at the experiences of other states and regions in the world," Herbert stated, "it's clear that those who are proactive in securing a supply of PPE are far better equipped when they see a surge of COVID-19 patients being admitted to hospitals."
