Utah Gov. Spencer Cox addressed the media for an update on COVID-19 on August 31, 2021. Photo: screenshot, Facebook
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox had a COVID-19 update as well as an apology for healthcare workers during a briefing Tuesday morning.
“We are grateful for your sacrifice and for your service, and I am sorry that you are going through this again,” said Cox.
He acknowledged how some have left the profession, and explained how short staffing, fewer beds and summer trauma season in addition to more COVID cases means hospital ICUs are full.
Cox said it was frustrating to have to report more cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 since the last time he held a major news conference on August 3rd.
“If there’s any good news in the past 3 ½ weeks, it’s that we have seen more people get vaccinated. And we know vaccinations are the best way to prevent hospitalization and to prevent death,” he said.
He urged Utahns again to take such steps as vaccination or masking to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.
Included in his COVID-19 update was how the governor is addressing the issue in his own life. He said he is back to wearing a mask at church, as requested, and will wear one around people who are not vaccinated. But he does not see a statewide mask mandate coming back.
“The laws that we have in place require collaboration with the legislature. They have the ability to overturn anything we do, and anything that happens over 30 days has to be approved by a legislative committee and the entire legislature,” said Cox.
Cox said he has been meeting with legislative leaders for several weeks and will meet with the legislature this week.
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization