Currently, there are two confirmed case of COVID-19 in Utah. The cases are in Davis County and in the Weber-Morgan health district. The Davis County patient is isolated in their home and the Weber-Morgan patient is in serious, but stable, condition at McKay-Dee Hospital.

It appears both patients contracted the virus while traveling out of Utah or the country. The Utah Department of Health is reviewing any potential exposure others may have had to the patients to determine broader risk. So far, the department has determined that one of the patients attended the BYU-Gonzaga men's basketball game on Feb. 22 on the BYU campus but exposure was likely limited.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced they will limit attendance at the General Conference in April. Although sessions will still be conducted in Conference Center, the public will not be allowed to attend. Instead, the sessions will be distributed to church members through technology.

Utah’s disease surveillance system is working as designed, as public health officials and health care providers are coordinating to identify and investigate potential cases. Only cases diagnosed in Utah will be counted as Utah cases.

Cases of COVID-19 infection in travelers have been detected in the U.S. 

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other locations internationally, including the United States. In addition to CDC, many public health laboratories are now testing for the virus that causes COVID-19.

To limit the spread of the virus, many cities have placed restrictions on large gatherings. Many major events have also been cancelled, including the Coachella Music Festival and South By Southwest.

The World Health Organization has officially designated the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic.

The CDC has suspended travel from China and Iran by foreign nationals, and recommends avoiding all non-essential travel to these countries. The agency also recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Italy and South Korea, and that older adults or those with underlying health conditions avoid Japan.

The Italian government has placed the entire country on lockdown, allowing only essential travel and encouraging everyone to stay home. Other European countries have placed restrictions on travel and mass gatherings, as well.