SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Gary Herbert issued a new executive order with revised health guidelines.
The executive order, issued Friday, extends Utah's state of "yellow" on the color-coded chart until June 26. That is longer than originally anticipated. Previously, the governor has only extended his executive orders week by week.
The order keeps most of Utah in "yellow" or low risk for COVID-19. Salt Lake City remains "orange" or at a moderate risk. Only Kane County will be "green," the lowest risk level. The effect of Gov. Herbert's extension means that counties that sought to move to "green" (like Cache County) may have to wait a little longer.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall's office told FOX 13 on Thursday night she was seeking to move the state to a "yellow" risk level at the expiration of this latest order. COVID-19 case numbers for Salt Lake City itself were stabilizing, data from the Salt Lake County Health Department showed. Statewide, cases have been increasing.
At the same time, the Utah Department of Health issued revised guidelines covering nearly every aspect of life in the pandemic. "Social distancing" is now called "physical distancing," emphasizing a 6-foot distance between people to help prevent the spread of the virus. Where "green" had little to no regulations, it now includes that physical distancing and face coverings in public.
"Yellow" conditions for schools are carried over to "green." Entertainment venues can re-open, but there are caps on how many people can now be allowed in with physical distancing enforced.
Read the revised health guidelines for COVID-19 here.
Read the Governor's Executive order here: