Utah has nixed its coronavirus restrictions on resident gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving, even though officials still recommend against get-togethers, The Hill reports.
On Monday, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said a two-week-old mandate banning casual social gatherings from people in different households is now a recommendation.
The ban was set to expire on Monday.
Even though neighbors can congregate, state officials urged residents to keep holiday gatherings small in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“You increase the risk when you bring people into your home that are from outside the four walls of your house,” Herbert said during a news briefing. “That’s just the harsh reality.”
He also announced that the statewide mask order, which requires face coverings be worn in indoor public places and outdoors when physical distancing isn’t possible would be extended.
During the briefing, state epidemiologist Angela Dunn said Utah logged 2,244 coronavirus cases on Monday and that the seven-day average for new cases per day has reached 3,349 cases and “continues to increase.” There were 545 hospitalizations due to the virus on Monday. The governor said the state is “kind of at the full occupancy rate when it comes to ICU beds.”
Since the start of the pandemic, the state has reported 179,420 cases and 797 deaths. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, 136 of the total deaths took place in the past two weeks, which has been the deadliest 14-day period for coronavirus in Utah.
Marisa Herman ✉
Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.
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