I am still reviewing recommendations from the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission to transition Utah to an Orange phase. Good trends in data show that we could make that transition as early as the end of next week.

I have asked the commission to come back to me with specific recommendations on 1) caring for high-risk populations and 2) geographic areas of concern.

It is possible that not all areas of the state will move to orange at the same time.

We are not being guided by fear or politics. We will base these decisions off crucial data points, including:

1) Trends in new hospitalizations (this tells us how the virus is spreading and if it is hitting populations that require high levels of medical intervention).

The number of new hospitalizations has been declining since April 8, and using our most conservative estimation of the data, has declined by 18% over the last seven days.

We estimate that the transition rate of the virus is near 1 to 1.

2) We look very closely at capacity data:

- Our hospitalization numbers have been stable for the last two weeks.
- Currently, the statewide ICU utilization is less than 17%
- Over the last two weeks, ICU utilization has hovered between 15% and 17%

- Statewide non-ICU bed utilization is currently at 5%
- There is demand to treat non-COVID-19 medical issues to ensure individuals are getting the medical help needed. This demand can be managed based on current hospital utilization

3) We are also looking at process data:

- Our testing capacity has increased, as have our number of tests:
- Approximately two weeks ago, Utah had capacity to conduct 5000 tests a day and can now test more than 9000 tests a day.

- We are now regularly testing just over 4000 each day or a little less than 50% of existing testing capacity.
- We have 56 sites now set up for testing.

- These numbers provide confidence that testing capacity can be closely monitored to ensure that any hot spots are caught early and effectively managed.
- Utah is fourth in the nation for per capita testing, and trending higher each day.

- Exciting new developments for antibody testing could create a whole new layer of testing and screening that can help us to mitigate risk.

Public health officials are doing case investigations, and notification of close contacts. This involves interviewing all newly identified positive cases, determining who they have been in contact with, determining which of those contacts are considered to be "close" contacts.

These health officials then notify the close contacts. We have over 200 people detailed to this effort.

There are at least six data-rich dashboards updated daily on hospitals, quarantine, active cases, state entry points, hospitalizations, and supplies & resources. Together, these give us a picture of where we are and our readiness to move from one risk rating to another.