Some restrictions being eased as state reaches legislated 'endgame'

Utah has achieved the three metrics established by the state Legislature that signal the beginning of the end of COVID-19 pandemic. HB294, nicknamed the “endgame bill,” established benchmarks for removal of restrictions established by public health orders. Those benchmarks were recently achieved, meaning that certain restrictions have now been lifted.

The bill required restrictions to be lifted once the state achieved a two-week coronavirus case rate of less than 191 per 100,000 people, less than 15 percent of intensive care unit beds be occupied by COVID-19 patients over a seven-day average, and 1,633,000 prime doses of the COVID-19 vaccine be allocated to the state. All three requirements have now been met, according to state officials.

“I understand HB294 has been controversial. Important, legitimate arguments having been made on all sides of the issues,” health department executive director Rich Saunders said in a letter addressed to the Utah Legislature. “But today should give all of us reason to celebrate. No matter which side someone falls on, we can all be proud of the outcomes we have achieved so far.”

Meeting the standards terminates health orders that require a mask for gatherings of 50 people or more and terminates local government health orders requiring masks in places such as Salt Lake City and Grand County.

Though most health orders will end, the bill allows the state health department’s orders pertaining to Utah’s K-12 schools to continue. The mask mandate for K-12 schools will continue through June 15 or the last day of school, whichever comes first.