Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I understand how difficult the past couple of months have been for us. I appreciate all the input from the community. Please know that we are listening and taking notes. I am confident we will reach to normal in the near future. Here are the latest updates from the state and data on COVID.

State Updates:

• FEMA has warned Utahns impacted by the earthquake earlier this year to guard against fraud and I.D. theft. Read more here.

• Utah Human Services launched a new tool to help with mental health during the COVID-19 health crisis. More information here.

• Gov. Herbert issued an executive order adopting version 4.9 of the Phased Guidelines. The updates provide guidance for restaurants operating 24 hours per day and restaurants with buffet service. The order will remain in effect until August 7. View the full order here and the updated guidelines here.

• The Legislature allocated $25 million in CARES Act funding for a new COVID-19 Impacted Businesses Grant Program. The ‘Shop in Utah’ initiative began accepting applications yesterday and will provide grants to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. Learn more here.

• The Utah State Board of Education approved amendments to the attendance rule, giving schools flexibility on in-person and online instruction time, approved reopening plans for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, extended two grant application deadlines and amended intensive services fund rule following public comment. Read the full summary here.

State COVID-19 Data:

• As of July 30, at 1:00 p.m. Utah's private and public laboratories have administered 524,367 tests with 39,696 testing positive. There are currently 217 people hospitalized with COVID-19. There have been 300 fatalities, with an estimated 27,261 recovered. Additional information can be found here.

Utah has one of the lowest COVID-19 fatality rates in the nation, the second-lowest unemployment rate and hospitalizations have remained relatively stable. Though our fight is not over, our state's balanced approach has helped move us in a positive direction.

The graph shows Utah’s intensive care unit capacity from May 1 to July 28

In Case You Missed It:

Duchesne County Fair is taking place Saturday, August 8. Read more here.