San Juan County has joined other counties in the state to implement prohibitions on dine-in services and large gatherings. (Image credit: Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — The good news is that at the time of publishing, Utah does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19, the latest version of coronavirus.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is still learning how COVID-19 is spread, but they are working from an assumption that the virus is spread mainly from person to person.
Here’s how person to person transmission looks. An infected person stands within six feet of an uninfected person and coughs or sneezes, this produces infected respiratory droplets which may then land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby. Infected droplets may also be inhaled into the lungs.
“It may be possible,” according to an article on the CDC website, “that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
According to the CDC symptoms of COVID-19 can vary from mild symptoms to, in severe instances, death.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Speaking on behalf of Utah’s Coronavirus Task Force, Lt. Governor Spencer Cox says that the state is preparing to deal with cases of coronavirus. But he says that, currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah.
“Utah’s public health laboratory can now test for COVID-19,” Cox said in a video released Thursday.
“But right now the number of tests we can perform is very limited. Unfortunately, we can’t test everyone right now.”
Because of that limitation, Cox says that they are prioritizing testing for those who have severe symptoms and are most at risk as well as persons that have traveled to an affected area.
If you do feel that you have been infected Cox says the best thing to do is stay home, call your doctor, drink plenty of water and rest.
“If you think you may be at risk for COVID-19 call the Utah Coronavirus Information line,” Cox said. “Please do not arrive at an emergency room, doctor’s office or urgent care facility without calling ahead.”
That number is 1-800-456-7707.