Two more deaths in Utah related to the coronavirus were announced on Wedensday afternoon.
As of 1 p.m., there are now 1,012 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state. Reportedly, 20,155 people in the state have been tested for the virus.
The state website with updates about the virus states that 91 people have been hospitalized because of the virus, but this number does not take into account people who were hospitalized and who have since returned home.
Forty percent of the cases in the state are in adults between the ages of 25-44. The next highest group is people between the ages of 45-64 years old at 32% of cases. Adults in this age bracket represent the highest number of hospitalizations at 41.
During today's press conference, Gov. Gary Herbert announced there will be an executive order allowing tenants to defer rent payments until May 15 and no eviction notices before then. The responsibility to pay the rent still exists, but the hope is it will give people more time to get resources such as the stimulus checks.
Herbert also announced that it is now an executive order that no one visit state parks out of their county. People's IDs will be checked and people will be turned away. This is in an effort to remove the temptation for people to travel throughout the state, which he said could be especially detrimental if visitors come and infect rural communities.
Herbert said during the conference that a clarification would be made to the state order restricting dine-in options in the state will be relaxed to allow people to pick up food inside a restaurant if social distancing measures are followed and proper sanitation practiced. He said local health departments will monitor this.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said during the conference that during this difficult time many Utahns have stepped up to help and that a list of needs and how to fill them can be found at coronavirus.utah.gov/help.
To watch all of today's press conference, go here.
For a UPR Tweet thread with details from the press conference, go here.
