In response to this guidance, The Utah Department of Health has issued the following statement:

“The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses operated by public and private school systems regardless of vaccination status. This order did not come from the Utah Department of Health and the department is not responsible to enforce this order. Local education agencies will need to determine how to respond.“

The full order, as well as a list of FAQs, including about school buses, can be found on the CDC’s website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html

More guidance related to schools can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/education/

“Our number one goal all along has been the desire and the need to keep kids in school,” Cox said. “We have done that as well, if not better, than any other state.”

The change was made official in a new public health order changes the mask requirement to end on the “Monday of the last week of the 2020-21 school year or, in the case of non-traditional school, May 31, 2021.”

Gov. Cox said the move was done in consultation with several school district superintendents who expressed a desire for the requirement to be lifted, but masks are still encouraged.

“Give kids an opportunity to see their teachers, to see their friends, to spend that last week together without masks, if they so choose,” Cox said.

School districts still have the option to continue mask mandates in their schools if they feel there is still a substantial COVID-19 threat.

Information on COVID-19 cases in schools can be found on our case counts page (under the “Schools” tab).

Also at the briefing, Gov Cox stressed the need for Utahns to get vaccinated, noting that vaccinations across the country have slowed.

“This is how we get out of this pandemic forever,” Cox said. “This is the thing that prevents it from coming back in the fall.”

State officials will start exploring incentive options to encourage those who haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccine to do so. Businesses and organizations can also request a mobile vaccination clinic to help make the vaccine more accessible.

The thresholds required for terminating public health orders are:

• A 14-day case rate less than 191 per 100,000 people (currently 163.4)
• A 7-day average COVID-19 ICU utilization less than 15% (currently 11.2%) 
• More than 1,633,000 prime doses of COVID-19 vaccine allocated to the state (1,656,025) 

In a letter notifying legislative leadership the criteria have been met, UDOH Executive Director Rich Saunders said, “I understand HB294 has been controversial. Important, legitimate arguments having been made on all sides of the issues. 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.”

While HB294 ends most public health orders, it specifically allows UDOH to continue public health orders that pertain to public health and safety measures in K-12 schools. 

In accordance with that section of the statute, the UDOH today issued State Public Health Order 2021-11. This order requires continued, routine testing of participants in high school sports and other extracurricular activities and also requires face coverings be worn in K-12 schools. This order expires on the last day of the 2020-21 school year or June 15, whichever occurs first.

“It’s important not to give up the ground we have gained, especially in our schools,” said Saunders. “We’re asking teachers, administrators, parents, and students to please hang in there, and finish the year on a healthy note.” 

The COVID-19 Transmission Index, which identifies counties of high, moderate, and low disease transmission based on several established metrics will also continue. However, the index will only serve as an advisory tool of the steps individuals and businesses can continue to take to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

# # #

More information on the Legislative response can be found on our legislative timeline page.

“What a tremendous testament to the innovative and collaborative spirit in Utah, one that has allowed us to lead the nation in such an important way. Utah has shown a commitment to the total health of children by working together to balance risks, build bridges, and use every available resource to get students back to in-person learning safely,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director at the Utah Department of Health. “This recognition is well-deserved and we have so much and so many partners to be thankful for. We look forward to seeing where this goes next, as we adapt and respond together on behalf of the well-being of our students and teachers.”

The Utah COVID-19 School Manual was one of the first guidance documents in the country designed to help school administrators navigate the complexities of operating in-person learning as safely as possible during the pandemic. In addition, the Test to Play and Test to Stay programs provide assurance to school administrators and parents that schools and extracurricular activity programs continue to operate safely. 

When most Utah schools reopened for in-person instruction in fall 2020, the Utah Department of Health, with support from researchers from the University of Utah’s Health and Economic Recovery Outreach (HERO) project, observed COVID-19 rates were higher among youth aged 15–24 years than among younger students. With a commitment from the federal government to provide a stable supply of BinaxNOW tests earmarked for K-12 schools, the Utah Department of Health prioritized distributing tests to high schools throughout the state, and developed the Test to Play and Test to Stay programs. 

The Test to Play program lets students safely participate in extracurricular activities.

Test to Play was implemented in November 2020 by a state public health order. The goal of Test to Play is to allow students and staff to participate in extracurricular activities as safely as possible. If masks are not worn during the activity, extracurricular activities may be higher-risk environments than school classrooms. Regular testing can find students and staff who are infectious with COVID-19 quickly and help prevent further spread of the virus in the school and community. Under the program, students, teachers, and staff may participate in extracurricular activities if they:

• Are tested for COVID-19 at least once every 14 days. 
• Are not in isolation or quarantine. 
• Don’t have any symptoms of COVID-19.

The Test to Stay program is effective at keeping schools open for in-person learning.

Test to Stay was implemented in January 2021 by a policy outlined in the Utah COVID-19 School Manual. The goals of Test to Stay are to allow students and staff to participate in in-person learning as safely as possible, while lessening the burden quarantine and repeated soft closures have on students and their families, teachers, and school administrators. When a school meets outbreak thresholds outlined in the COVID-19 School Manual, the local education authority (in consultation with the local health department) can decide to either:

• Offer rapid antigen testing for all students and staff, or
• Take other actions consistent with public health guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Testing students and staff on a statewide scale is feasible and can help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

A survey conducted with school administrators in February 2021 by the Utah Department of Health showed: 

• Low positivity rates in Test to Stay and Test to Play events. This indicates using these types of testing strategies, along with guidelines in the COVID-19 School Manual, make a difference and help to stop the spread of COVID-19 among school populations.
• Sixty-one percent of school administrators who responded to the survey feel the Test to Stay program has effectively kept schools open for in-person learning. 
• Test to Stay events helped students’ families feel more comfortable and confident sending students to school. 
• Test to Stay events increased community buy-in for future testing events and mitigation strategies. 

The Utah Department of Health, with support and commitment from the Utah State Board of Education, Utah High School Activities Association, local school districts and schools, researchers at the University of Utah, and Utah’s 13 local health departments, has shown these types of testing programs are not only feasible for K-12 schools to implement statewide, but also important ways to prevent outbreaks in the school setting and greater community. 

Gov. Cox set a goal of fully immunizing all health care providers, long-term care facility staff and residents, first responders, public and tribal health frontline workers, K-12 teachers and school staff, and adults older than 70 by the end of February. Approximately 412,000 Utah residents from these population groups are expected to be vaccinated.

School districts have been working with their local health departments and other providers in their areas on plans for vaccinating their staff. Districts and administrators will communicate directly with their employees on how, when, and where to be vaccinated.

“We know there is tremendous demand among teachers for the vaccine, and we are thrilled to be able to accelerate the timeline for immunizing teachers,” said Gov. Cox. “There’s no part of our society that COVID-19 has impacted more significantly than education. Getting the vaccine out to teachers and school staff will provide stability in our schools and improve the educational experience of our students.”

Utah’s 13 local health departments have already vaccinated tens of thousands of Utah health care workers and first responders, and will also be responsible for vaccinating older adults. Older adults or their caretakers should contact their local health department late next week to learn about how to make an appointment.

“Providing vaccines for these additional groups is exciting, but it is important to manage expectations,” said Rich Saunders, Utah Department of Health executive director. “We are still receiving a limited number of doses each week, and demand is likely to outpace supply initially. Not everyone will be able to schedule an appointment next week, but we ask them to be patient and keep trying. We will have enough doses to eventually vaccinate everyone in these groups.”

Originally, teachers and school staff were anticipated to receive vaccinations later in January, and older adults in mid-February. Based on current vaccine administration progress, anticipated supply over the next several weeks, the important role schools play in society, and the severity of disease older adults experience, Utah’s Unified Command group recommended accelerating the vaccination timeline.

Subsequent populations being considered for vaccination priority include prioritization by additional age groups, residents with certain underlying medical conditions, and certain residents who live in congregate settings.

More details about the COVID-19 vaccine, and Utah’s distribution plan, can be found at coronavirus-stage.at.utah.gov/vaccine.

Executive order

The governor’s executive order, describes vaccine eligibility and vaccine provider requirements, including not administering the vaccine to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days, administering each COVID-19 vaccine within seven days of receiving the vaccine; and reporting data each day by 6:59 a.m.

It also states that a vaccine provider that does not comply with the Order may be subject to a reduced COVID-19 vaccine distribution or no distribution for future distribution periods. A COVID-19 vaccine not used within seven days of distribution is subject to redistribution. 

The Order states the Utah Department of Health shall coordinate with local health departments to establish procedures to offer monoclonal antibodies to residents of long-term care facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on the state’s vaccine distribution plan, please visit our vaccine distribution webpage.

These recommendations are to help you make informed decisions and do not take the place of any state or local health or safety guidelines. Before planning any type of holiday gathering or activity, you should check The Utah Health Guidance Level for your community. You can find information for your community at: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels/.

For Trick-or-Treaters

• A costume mask does not replace a cloth mask.
• Make your cloth mask part of your costume.
• Consider wearing a Halloween-themed face covering. Halloween masks do not protect against COVID-19.
• Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask. It can make breathing more difficult.
• Masks should NOT be worn by children younger than the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing.

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live in your home.

Indoors and outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a long time.

Trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treating is mostly done outside. It is a much better option than an indoor gathering. You can trick-or-treat safely if you wear a cloth face covering and stay at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live in your home.

● Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
● Wait to go up to a door if there is already a group there.
● Don’t stay at any one house for more than a few minutes.
● Don’t let your kids eat their candy before they get home. When you get home, you can wipe the wrappers off with a disinfecting wipe.

Wash your hands

• Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Parents: supervise young children using hand sanitizer.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.

Do not go trick-or-treating, or to a party or other activities if you or someone who lives in your home:

• Has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• Was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• Should be in isolation or quarantine.
• Has symptoms of COVID-19.
• Is waiting for COVID-19 test results.
• Is at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Know your risk

• Take extra precautions if you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or live or work with someone at higher-risk for severe illness. To find out more about who may be at higher- risk, visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/protecting-high-risk-individuals/.
• Celebrate virtually or with just the people who live in your home.
• Don’t go to in-person gatherings with people who don’t live in your home or large gatherings with many people.
• If you go to an in-person gathering with people who do not live in your household, try to participate in lower risk activities (see tables below).

For those answering the door:

• Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
• Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
• Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
• Wash hands before handling treats.
• Wear a mask.

Trunk-or-treats:

• Follow the recommendations for trick-or-treating.
• Have trunk-or-treaters go in a one-way direction.
• Park cars at least 6-feet apart. Don’t ride together. Each car should only have people who live in the same home.
• Don’t go to a trunk-or-treat if anyone in your home is at higher-risk.

When you get home:

• Everyone should wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Wipe down candy wrappers with a disinfectant wipe before your child eats anything. Don’t wipe down the candy itself; that would be dangerous.
• Throw away anything that is open, homemade, or is not individually wrapped.

Halloween parties and activities

We don’t recommend having a Halloween party with people who don’t live in your home. If you want to have a Halloween party, keep it small and invite only immediate family members. You can lower the risk and make a Halloween party safer by taking precautions and using strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If you’re going to a party, here are some things to consider:

• Try to have parties outside. Indoor gatherings have more risk than outdoor ones. This is especially important if people who don’t live in the same homes are eating or drinking.
• Keep your face covering on as much as possible.
• Ask everyone to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when they get there. Make sure soap and water or hand sanitizer is available.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from other families if you eat or drink. Put your face covering back on right after you are done eating. Any time you take your face covering off, it increases your risk of getting or spreading the virus.
• Do not go to parties where people aren’t wearing face coverings. These have been shown to be extremely high risk for COVID-19 transmission.
• Avoid buffet-style eating. One person should serve food. Each family should sit at a different table.
• Have games or activities kids can do with their masks on. No bobbing for apples this year!

For more information, visit:

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/covid-19/2020/10/covid-19-how-to-have-a-safe-and-fun-halloween/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

That’s 250,000 masks and 100,000 face shields. The Unified Command’s supply group had brainstormed ways to support the reopening plans and determined they can make a one-time push of KN95 masks and clear face shields available to all teachers, staff and bus drivers in the state. 

The state’s distribution center will put together this one-time PPE push pack for every school district to provide a buffer while districts work on securing their own PPE. The pack will include 5 KN95 masks and 2 face shields for every teacher and faculty member. We anticipate supporting approx 28,000 teachers and 16,000 staff.

All PPE push packs left the warehouse on Friday, August 7, bound for districts throughout the state. Counties will determine how they want to distribute the PPE to the districts and charter schools, which we expect will happen in the coming week.

To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, cloth masks are already required for students, educators, staff, and visitors at our schools. We know masks can limit up to 90% of droplets that can leave our mouths when we talk, laugh, and cough or sneeze.

Wearing a mask is an integral component of returning to school safely. Find more tips and recommendations in the COVID-19 School Manual.

SALT LAKE CITY (July 17, 2020) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has issued an Executive Order adopting version 4.8 of the Phased Guidelines. The updated guidelines allow, but do not require, schools in the Orange (Medium Risk) Phase to open and provide some level of in-person instruction. The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until August 7. 

Today the Utah Department of Health issued a public health order mandating the use of face coverings in all K-12 schools. The order establishes certain exemptions that will apply when an individual is maintaining physical distancing of at least six feet apart from another individual, when the individual is eating or drinking, and if the individual has a medical condition, mental health condition, or a disability that prevents the wearing of the face covering.

Gov. Herbert issued the following statement: “We want to ensure we have the safest environment possible for students, teachers, and faculty as they return to school this fall. We have established guidelines on how districts can follow these mandates and we trust local school districts and charters to use common sense in creating thoughtful reopening plans for the families and communities they serve.” 

The public health order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until December 31. 

View the updated phased guidelines here.

View the public health order here and the full Executive Order here. 

The order specifically addresses updated guidelines pertaining to social gatherings, education, businesses, travel and events. 

“We are making progress and we can see that these recommendations are working,” Gov. Herbert said. “I would like to express my gratitude to all who are taking these recommendations seriously, and stress that following these guidelines is crucial to ensuring the safety and health of us all.”

The new order clarifies that generally all businesses that are within the counties that have been moved to the low risk phase are operating if they can meet and adhere to the specific guidelines. For clarity, the order states symptom checking in public and business interactions should happen when feasible. 

Travel guidelines request that all continue to avoid non-essential travel to areas with widespread community transmission of COVID-19. 

The guidance for  K-12 education addresses the resumption of school activities, including sports, under jurisdiction of district and school authorities in adherence to indoor and outdoor guidelines. Additionally, hand sanitizer will need to be made available to faculty and students in each classroom and regular hand washing routines will be instituted. Faculty and staff will need to wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible. Updates regarding face coverings for students will be provided by local school and charter boards in consultation with health department officials. 

Regarding higher education, campuses may be open for in-person classes with increased cleaning and hygiene regimen. In cooperation with the Utah System of Higher Education, each institution will develop individualized plans for repopulating campus, monitoring for incidence, containing outbreaks, and reclosing if necessary. 

More updated information regarding higher education, outdoor recreation, including pools and waterparks can be found in the guidelines attached. 

The order is effective immediately and remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. on June 5. View the full order here. 

View the updated phased guidelines here.

“In order to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, we believe — based on our review of the data and best practices —  that we need to extend the soft closure of our public schools through the remainder of the school year,” Gov. Herbert said.

Although schools will stay physically closed from providing traditional in-person instruction, learning will continue. Local school districts and charters will be instructed to continue with their plans that address the following issues:

• Continue providing learning opportunities for all students
  
• Provide graduating seniors the content they need to transition
  
• Maximize opportunities for students to continue to receive meal services
  
• Make every effort to keep staff gainfully employed
  
• Support student and staff mental health and social emotional needs

The control remains with our local health officers to change this decision from a dismissal to a closure, if they feel the situation in the community develops further.

More specific information on the extension of the soft school closure will be posted on the Utah State Board of Education webpage.