BOX ELDER COUNTY – By Cari Doutre
A complied and updated list of local information, closures, statistics and more during the COVID-19 shutdown as of April 1, 2020.
For more updates, corrections or to add information, email us at: valleyheadliner@gmail.com
COVID-19 STATISTICS AS OF APRIL 1, 2020:
* Sixteen (16) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bear River Health Department’s district
* Nine (9) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Box Elder County
* Seven (7) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cache County
* A total of 1,012 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah
* Seven (7) COVID-19 related deaths in Utah
BEAR RIVER HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S TREMONTON LOCATION TEMPORARILY CLOSED:
In a press release dated March 31, The Bear River Health Department announced the temporary closure of their Tremonton office, located at 440 W. 600 N., Tremonton, effective April 1.
“To best utilize our staff and resources in response to COVID-19, the health department will temporarily close our Tremonton location,” the press release stated.
“UTAH LEADS TOGETHER” PLAN RELEASED BY UTAH GOVERNOR GARY HERBERT:
The Utah Leads Together economic response plan, announced on March 24, 2020, gives structure and order in several phases.
The plan includes three phases of response: urgent, stabilization, and recovery. These phases are to help businesses balance the health of employees while planning imperatives vital for continuing operations.
For a complete look at Herbert’s plan, click on the link here:
GOVERNOR HERBERT ANNOUNCES DIRECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUALS:
On March 27, 2020, the following order was issued by Governor Herbert with the following directives in place until 11:59 p.m. on April 13, 2020.
A few of those directives include:
* Stay at home as much as possible.
* Work from home whenever possible.
* Encourage socializing by phone and video chats.
* Self-quarantine for 14 days after traveling or being exposed to an individual presenting symptoms of illness consistent with COVID-19.
Engage in appropriate social distancing, including:
* Maintaining a 6-foot distance at all times from other individuals when in public;
* Not shaking hands with other individuals;
* Not visiting friends or family without urgent need;
* Not attending any gathering of any number of people, except for members of the same household or residence.
Children:
1. Do not attend school outside the home.
2. Do not arrange or participate in in-person playdates or similar activities.
3. Do not allow children on public playground equipment.
Time Spent Outside:
1. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet away from another person at all times while outside.
2. Exercise outside while maintaining 6-foot distance from another person and without touching common areas.
3. Do not congregate at trailheads and other outdoor spaces.
4. Do not travel to, or participate in activities at, any of the following locations:
1. places of public amusement or public activity;
2. public swimming pools; or
3. gyms, and fitness centers.
Recreational and Outdoor Activities and Parks:
1. Remain at least six feet apart from individuals from other households while engaging in outdoor activities (e.g., walking, hiking, running, biking, driving for pleasure, hunting, or fishing).
2. Do not congregate at trailheads, parks, or other outdoor spaces.
3. Do not engage in close-contact or team sports.
4. Do not go to or engage in activities at a state park located outside the county in which you reside (the availability of national parks will be determined in consultation with the National Park Service and the county in which the park is located).
For a complete look at Herbert’s directive, click on the link here:
BEAR RIVER HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES A PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER:
On March 28, the Bear River Health Department passed a public health order supporting Governor Herbert’s directives.
For a complete look at that public health order, click on the link here:
UTAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISMISSED UNTIL MAY 1:
Governor Herbert announced on March 23, that all K-12 public schools in Utah are extending their dismissal through May 1. Individual school districts will determine what is best for their students and district. Box Elder School District will continue with soft closures which includes online learning at home for students.
SCHOOL MEAL DELIVERIES OVER:
School buses in Box Elder School District will no longer be delivering breakfast and lunch to bus stops in the county as of March 27. The district will move to a summer meal program that is free to children 0-18.
* Meals are available from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) for lunch and breakfast the next day in grab and go bags.
* No breakfast on April 6, 2020
* Meals will be available curbside
* Children must be there to pick up their own meals (Federal Food Program requirement)
Locations:
McKinley Elementary
Garland Elementary
Fielding Elementary
Century Elementary
Snowville School
Park Valley School (Monday to Thursday)
Alice C. Harris Intermediate
Bear River High School
Discovery Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
Three Mile Creek
Adele C. Young Intermediate School
Box Elder Middle School
Box Elder High School
For more information, click on BRVNEWS.com’s published article here:
COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING AT INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES:
Intermountain Healthcare has started drive-thru testing at several facilities in Utah, including Bear River Clinic located at The Bear River Valley Hospital in Tremonton.
Testing will be available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information, click on BRVNEWS.com’s published article here:
RESTAURANT DINING ROOMS: https://health.utah.gov/
The Utah Department of Health issued an order on Tuesday, March 17, that all restaurants, bars and food services in Utah suspend all dine-in operations for two weeks.
The order took effect on Wednesday, March 18, at 11:59 p.m.
However, food establishments and restaurants can still offer drive-thru, pickup and delivery options – just no customers dining in.
The Utah Department of Health strongly recommends that customers use online and telephone transaction services to pay for meals. “Cash payments are strongly discouraged,” the statement added.
Employees that handle credit cards or cash are required to use cleaning measures between each transaction. Any employee that handles cash or credit cards “may not participate in food preparation, handling or delivery.”
For more information, click on BRVNEWS.com’s published article here:
RESULTS GYM & FITNESS: https://www.resultsgymandfitness.com/
The Tremonton gym closed their doors on Wednesday, March 18, until further notice, as recommended by the Bear River Health Department.
INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTHCARE FACILITITIES: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/
The Bistro, located at Bear River Valley Hospital in Tremonton, will no longer allow guests under the age of 18 in accordance with recent Intermountain Healthcare policies, effective March 16, 2020.
GATHERINGS OF 10 OR MORE PEOPLE PROHIBITED:
The Utah Department of Health issued an order on Tuesday, March 17, prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. This does not include grocery stores.
Businesses that have more than 10 employees are asked to implement social distancing with 6 feet or more between workers in communal areas.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS:
All temples are closed as of March 26.
The Church announced on Friday, March 20, that a substantial amount of full-time missionaries will return to their home nations to continue their service.
All returning missionaries will go through a 14-day period of self -isolation then may be assigned to serve within their home country based on local conditions.
Missionaries will likely see a reduced term of service to accommodate the large number of missionaries returning from around the world.
All missionary training centers, worldwide, will no longer receive new missionaries. Missionaries will be trained through technology and sent to their assigned mission as soon as possible.
All senior missionary couples serving throughout the world were sent home and required to self isolate for 14 days.
UTAH STATE SCHOOL BOARD WAIVES REQUIREMENTS: https://schools.utah.gov/board
On Thursday, March 19, the Utah State School Board of Education announced that they will waive school day requirements for schools 2019-20 school year. Schools are no longer required to have 180 total school days for the year. All public schools in Utah are currently dismissed for a two-week period.
The board also suspended the requirement for statewide assessments for the current school year.
BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT: https://www.besd.net/
Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced on Friday, March 13, that all public schools will be dismissed, or implement a “soft close” for two weeks starting March 16.
“We feel strongly that the best way to keep our communities healthy is to implement these measures early, rather than late,” Herbert said in a press conference.
All school districts in Utah will determine what is best for their community.
BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT’S DISMISSAL OR “SOFT CLOSURE” PLANS:
“This school closure is a preventative measure to decrease the spread of coronavirus. A soft school closure means that students will be dismissed from school, but facilities would be kept open and staff will continue to work,” Box Elder School District stated in a letter sent to parents on March 13.
- Beginning Wednesday, March 18, students will be learning at home via online curriculum. For students without access to internet, a curriculum can be picked up at their school or mailed to them via USPS.
- For students that don’t have devices at home for the online curriculum, Chromebook’s can be checked out and used at home.
All extracurricular school activities, including those associated with the Utah High School Activities Association, are suspended for two weeks. This includes all high school sports and all other activities (school dances, events, etc.). More on UHSAA suspensions can be found below.
“We appreciate the community working together to minimize any spread of the coronavirus throughout the district. As a district, we are encouraging all parents to limit large group gatherings during this time.” - Box Elder School District March 13, parent email.
OTHER BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSURES:
- The Bear River Natatorium will be closed until April 6. Swim lessons are postponed.
- The Box Elder Natatorium will be closed until April 6 or until further notice. Swim lessons are postponed.
UTAH HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION: https://www.uhsaa.org/index.php
- All UHSAA spring activities will be suspended starting Monday, March 16, until May 1, 2020.
- Those suspended activities include all team practices and gatherings.
- Member schools and/or districts may suspend spring activities immediately.
- All out of state school related travel has been suspended for at least two weeks.
TREMONTON CITY: www.tremontoncity.org
Tremonton City’s COVID-19 plan can be found at:
- All city services remain fully active.
- All Tremonton City events are canceled or postponed until further notice.
- Both the Tremonton City Council and Planning Commission will continue operation.
- Justice Court is continuing all operations.
- Limited public meetings will be held
TREMONTON CITY LIBRARY: http://tremontoncity.org/community/library/
- All programs and activities are suspended.
- Limited check out services will begin on March 16.
TREMONTON FOOD PANTRY: http://tremontoncity.org/community/food-pantry/
- Limited operations
- The food pantry will be open Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. for donations.
- Free lunch program canceled
- Boy Scouts of America food drive is postponed.
BEAR RIVER VALLEY SENIOR CENTER: http://tremontoncity.org/community/senior-center/
- Normal operating hours, for now
- The health fair has been postponed until further notice.
- Thursday, March 19, Rudd’s Free Day will be a drive through lunch for people to pick up meals. All meals must be ordered by Wednesday.
TREMONTON PARKS AND RECREATION: http://tremontoncity.org/community/parks-rec/
- Youth soccer player evaluation and coaches’ meetings will continue as planned.
- All youth soccer games are postponed.
- Adult pickle ball and adult soccer will continue operating.
- The Slothathlon starting line will now be a virtual kickoff.
GARLAND CITY: http://www.garlandutah.org/
- All Garland City Recreation programs, practices and events are suspended.
- The city’s spring wrestling season for beginners is canceled.
GARLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY: https://www.garlandlibrary.org/
- The Garland Public Library will be closed starting Monday, March 16, until further notice.
- All library programs, including Story Time, are suspended until further notice.
GARLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT: http://garlandfd.com/
- The 2020 Garland Fire Department's Annual Salmon BBQ is cancelled.
- The 2020 Garland Fire Department's Easter egg hunt is cancelled.
- The fire department is suspending participation in all non-essential public events and station tours.
- All Garland City Fire Department facilities are on lockdown from public access. No visitors allowed in the facility without approval of immediate supervisor or emergency response.
BOX ELDER COUNTY: http://www.boxeldercounty.org/
BEAR RIVER HEALTH DEPARTMENT: https://brhd.org/
NEW HOPE CRISIS CENTER: https://newhopecrisiscenter.org/
- Until further notice the New Hope Crisis Center is closed to the general public.
- Temporarily suspending some services
- Providing only crisis and essential services such as domestic violence shelter and services and sexual assault services
- All group classes are suspended for two weeks.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTHERN UTAH: www.bcbrclub.org
- Closed for two weeks in accordance with all Utah public school dismissals.
BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge/
- The Refuge Wildlife Education Center and Auto Tour Route will remain open.
THE OLD BARN COMMUNITY THEATER: www.oldbarn.org
- All remaining shows of “The Wizard of Oz” will be postponed until April. For more information find them on Facebook.
HERITAGE THEATER: www.heritagetheaterutah.com
- All performances will be canceled until March 30. Further decisions will be made after that date.
BOX ELDER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: https://www.boxelderchamber.com/
- All career fairs for Bear River High and Box Elder High have been postponed.
UTAH STATE PARKS: https://stateparks.utah.gov/
- All 44 of Utah’s state parks, including Willard Bay in Box Elder County are open.
- All events at Utah state parks have been canceled.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/
- All temples are closed as of March 26.
- All public gatherings of Church members are temporarily suspended worldwide and include stake conferences, leadership conferences, all public worship services (including sacrament meetings), all branch, stake and ward activities or other large gatherings.
- Temple activities will be temporarily suspended in accordance with government restrictions.
- For those areas with no government restrictions, only a limited amount of temple work will be permitted.
- Beginning March 16, all missionaries scheduled to enter missionary training centers in Provo, Utah or Preston, England, will be trained remotely by video conference. All other missionary training centers will continue as usual but will not receive any missionaries from regions where government officials are restricting activity due to COVID-19.
- The April 2020 General Conference session will be closed to the public.