3-18-21 Transcript Bulletin
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High hopes for Buffs’ ballgame See A8 TOOELETRANSCRIPT S T C BULLETIN S THURSDAY March 18, 2021 www.TooeleOnline.com Vol. 127 No. 84 $1.00 Covid -19 transmission level drops to moderate CEILLY SUTTON requirements for individu- statewide ICU utilization, the STAFF WRITER als and businesses to follow county would be in the high Tooele County has in order to reduce transmis- transmission index level.” entered the moderate level sion of COVID-19,” said Amy Changes to a county’s trans- of the Governor and Utah Bate public health officer at mission index level occur on a Department of Health’s the Tooele County Health seven-day cycle. COVID-19 transmission index. Department. “Counties that “The Utah Department of The guideline system meet at least two criteria for Health will review the data began in Oct. 2020 when Gov. high, moderate, or low will each Wednesday and announce Spencer Cox announced it dur- be moved to that level. For changes on Thursdays,” Bate ing a press conference. example, if a county meets the said. “The date drives the There are three levels in the high level criteria for the 7-day decision and counties that transmission index: high, mod- average percent positivity, meet at least two criteria for erate, and low. the high level for the 14-day SHUTTERSTOCK “Each level has certain case rate, and the low level for SEE COVID-19 PAGE A10 ® The change to moderate COVID-19 transmission level brings changes in restrictions for restaurants in the county. Tooele City Govenor Cox Council approves issues drought Transportation emergency Master Plan CEILLY SUTTON to offer that to our citizens. declaration STAFF WRITER We definitely need more trails The Tooele City Council and recreation. I really like the voted to approve the city’s new trails too and I hope we will be 90% of state in extreme drought Transportation Master Plan able to implement more of that plan during their Wednesday in our city.” TIM GILLIE during its March 15 meeting, evening meeting. Last week, the planning EDITOR recommended the governor Council chairwoman Melodi commission met and unani- Despite late winter storms, issue the drought declaration, Gochis liked the alternate mously voted “yes” to the plan Gov.Spencer Cox issued an which activates the Drought transportation methods that and to send a positive recom- executive order on Wednesday Response Committee. were included in the plan. mendation to the City Council. declaring a state of emergency Brian Steed, executive direc- “I love the part of the plan In the last issue of the in Utah due to drought condi- tor of the Utah Department of about bike safety and the bike Transcript Bulletin, details tions. Natural Resources, chairs both lanes,” said Gochis. “I am a of the plan were discussed, “We’ve been monitoring committees. recreational bike rider. I like such as: the city adding more drought conditions care- Following a record dry the wider bike lanes and I stop lights, future collector fully and had hoped to see summer and fall, this win- think this is a healthy lifestyle and arterial roads, lining up significant improvement from ter’s snowpack is about 70% that we need to promote in winter storms,” said Cox. of average for the year. For SEE PLAN PAGE A10 ® the city. We are really pleased “Unfortunately, we have not snowpack to reach average, received enough snow to off- Utah’s mountains would need set the dry conditions. I ask to receive the remaining 30% Utahns to evaluate their water before it starts to melt signifi- use and find ways to save cantly, typically the first week TIM GILLIE/TTB PHOTO not only because of current in April. There is around a A green bike lane drought conditions but also 10% chance of this occurring, on 100 East in because we live in one of the according to state officials. Tooele City (above). driest states in the nation.” Current soil moisture is also Traffic on East 1000 North in The declaration allows at the lowest levels since moni- Tooele (left) gets drought-affected communities, toring began in 2006. congested during agricultural producers and oth- “Extremely dry soils mean peak travel time in ers to officially begin the pro- that when we do receive pre- Tooele City. cess that may provide access cipitation, the ground will to state or federal emergency soak it up first and reduce resources. the runoff that typically fills With 100% of the state in reservoirs, lakes and streams,” at least the moderate drought Steed said. “We urge people to category and 90% of the state consider ways they can save experiencing extreme drought, water and help be part of the the state’s Drought Review and Reporting Committee, SEE DROUGHT PAGE A10 ® Say goodbye to Tooele InstaCare Decrease in volume, increase in virtual visits blamed for 9-year-old facility closing TIM GILLIE “Due to decreases in tinuing shift in consumer pref- Intermountain will open a EDITOR urgent care patient volumes erences toward using digital “same-day primary care” clinic Intermountain Healthcare over the last few years and and virtual options for primary at Northpointe Medical office announced on Wednesday increasing use of virtual visit care and uncomplicated urgent in Tooele for walk-in patients. that they will close the Tooele options, like Connect Care, care, according to IMC offi- It will be open Saturday and InstaCare on April 15. the Intermountain Tooele cials. Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm The health care company InstaCare will close at the IMC directs patients in the beginning approximately April cites a decrease in patient vol- end of day April 15,” reads a Tooele area to their InstaCare 17, according to IMC. ume and an increase in virtual press release from IMC issued facilities in West Valley City or Intermountain has 25 other TIM GILLIE/TTB PHOTO visits as the reason for the Wednesday morning. near downtown Salt Lake City, Intermountain Healthcare announced their Tooele InstaCare on Main closure. The closure reflects a con- in their press release. SEE INSTACARE PAGE A10 ® Street in Tooele City will close on April 15. BULLETIN BOARD B5 CLASSIFIEDS B6 Foothill hiking OBITUARIES A6 CORONAVIRUS TRACKER See A4 SPORTS A8 Data as of March 17, 2021. Source: Utah Department of Health TOOELE COUNTY- Known Cases: 6,760 UTAH- Known Cases: 380,340 Hospitalizations: 207 • Deaths: 38 Hospitalizations: 15,223 • Deaths: 2,041 A2 TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN THURSDAY March 18, 2021 WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE: COVID-19 pandemic The behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide. and mental health TALKING ABOUT: FEELING: Report shows no increase in suicides, mental distress, or drug Wanting to die Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having Great guilt or shame no reason to live overdoses, but health officials are still concerned Being a burden to others Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage CEILLY SUTTON than drug overdose deaths in difference in the rate of Utah STAFF WRITER 2018. adults reporting frequent men- Unbearable emotional or physical pain A recent report from the “Years of statewide overdose tal distress on 2020, the num- Department of Health shows prevention efforts have led to ber of drug overdoses reported CHANGING BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS: no increase in suicides, mental significant declines in opioid to emergency departments Making a plan or researching Taking dangerous risks such as distress, or drug overdoses overdose death rates since remained stable and calls to ways to die driving extremely fast during the pandemic. 2016,” Cox said. “It’s clear the the Suicide Prevention Crisis Utah health experts believe efforts of prevention experts, Line increased throughout the Withdrawing from friends, saying Displaying extreme mood swings the state’s existing mental policy makers, healthcare pro- first ten months in 2020, but good bye, giving away important Eating or sleeping more or less health and substance abuse viders, state and local govern- this is consistent with other items, or making a will resources are the reason why. ment officials, and every day years, according to the report. Using drugs or alcohol more often “The pandemic has citizens have helped us adapt “This data suggests that impacted Utahns in significant and continue providing ser- interventions and treat- ways, yet this report shows vices to those in crisis.” ment during the pandemic If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as Utahns are resilient,” said Gov. The overall trend of suicide have remained as effective possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. Spencer Cox. “Despite these ideation and attempts have as in previous years, even in National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Text Line difficult times, there is hope. remained stable in the state the face of a sudden shift to We are not powerless to the and Tooele County. primarily telehealth and ser- 1-800-273-TALK Text “HELLO” to 741741 difficult circumstances around “We have seen modestly vices,” said Kimberly Myers, us. I encourage all Utahns to declining suicide rates in the assistant director at the continue to lift each other up state since 2017 to 2018, Utah Department of Human National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov/suicideprevention and provide the support we all despite suicide rates continu- Services Division of Substance NIMH Identifier No. OM 19-4316 need during these challenging ing to rise across the country,” Abuse and Mental Health. “If times.” said Amy Mikkelsen, suicide you are struggling, get help. The report shows that prevention coordinator at the It’s safe to go to your doctor, thoughts of suicide or crisis They can also visit liveonu- Health, please visit coronavi- deaths from drug overdoses Utah Department of Health.