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NEWS - "Local update on COVID-19 shutdown"

BOX ELDER COUNTY – By Cari Doutre – March 21, 2020


Recent announcements to temporarily close public schools, churches and more to prevent the spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Utah has shut down many parts of the state.

If any information is incorrect, in need of updating or to add to this list, please email us at: valleyheadliner@gmail.com

Originally posted on BRVNEWS.com on March 17, here is an updated list of closures, information and statistics during the COVID-19 shutdown in Box Elder County (and Utah) as of Saturday, March 21.


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.”


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:

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.


COVID-19 STATISTICS AS OF MARCH 20, 2020: coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts

Three (3) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bear River Health Department’s district

One (1) confirmed case of COVID-19 in Box Elder County (announced on March 17)

A total of 136 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Utah


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.


SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVICES IN BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT:

- Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, breakfast and lunches will be served at all elementary schools during regularly scheduled times for each school.

- Meals will be available in a “grab and go” bag.

- Students will need to pick up their own meals.

- Parents or others can’t pick up meals for them and deliver them to students.

- Students do not need to go to the school they are enrolled in to pick up meals.

- For families with students in multiple schools, they only need to go to one school.

- Bus drivers will be delivering breakfast and cold lunches on regular K-12 grades bus routes throughout the district.

- Breakfast will be delivered at bus stops between 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

- Lunch will be delivered between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.

- Additional bus stops are available at the following locations towards the end of the delivery times for those students that are not close to a bus stop or a school:

Tremonton area:

Shuman Park (library park): 210 N. Tremont St., Tremonton

Meadow Park: 700 W. 700 S., Tremonton

Garland City Park: 100 N. 600 E., Garland

- Children must be present to receive their meals. There will be no adult meals available.

- Meals will not be served during spring break (March 30 – April 3).

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, 2020 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, for at least two weeks.

- 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


- All programs and activities are suspended for two weeks.

- Limited check out services will begin on March 16.


- 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.


- All Garland City Recreation programs, practices and events are suspended for two weeks. 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.



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.


- 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 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.



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