VERNAL, Utah — People who attended the "City of Fun" carnival in Vernal on Thursday are urged to watch for COVID-19 symptoms, practice social distancing and avoid contact with high-risk individuals after at least nine carnival workers tested positive for the disease.
According to Uintah County, the nine workers were originally tested on June 18 in American Fork, but their test results were not released until Thursday - the same day that the carnival opened.
Uintah County and the Tricounty Health Department immediately closed the carnival Thursday evening after the Utah Department of Health notified them of the positive test results.
Western Park, the venue where the carnival was held, "will continue to host events this summer, including the Outlaw Trail Theater’s performances of 'South Pacific' and the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo," a news release from Uintah County said.
Western Park manager Derk Hatch said the carnival operated under requirements outlined in a June 17 plan, which mandated fencing around the venue, sanitation of rides, face coverings for employees and physical distancing in rides.