All of Utah's COVID-19 transmission rate reported 'moderate' or lower

As of last week, data from Utah’s Department of Health show that no place in the state is now considered a “high risk” for COVID-19 transmission.

On April 1, Beaver and Emery counties moved to a “moderate” transmission level for COVID-19. It means that virus cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations have dropped to certain thresholds. Counties that move out of a high transmission index can also loosen some health restrictions on gatherings. Masks were still mandated statewide at least until April 10 as a result of the “COVID-19 endgame” law passed by the state Legislature in March.

Although Utah is a beginning to ease some restrictions as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decline, various new outlets have reported that in a memo to state employees, Gov. Spencer Cox has announced a decision to keep the mask mandate in effect for state personnel until May 31. That applies to buildings on Utah’s Capitol Hill, state-run liquor stores and the DMV driver license offices.

“We want to make sure our employees have an opportunity to get that vaccine before we take the masks away in those workplaces,” Cox told Salt Lake City’s Fox13. “So we anticipate by the end of May, everyone will have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated and at that point we won’t require masks for our employees.”

Cox also said that despite pushback and pleas from some groups, he will not lift the mask mandate in K-12 schools.