Governor Gary Herbert announced that over the past month, Utah’s COVID-19 case counts have “skyrocketed to the highest they have ever been,” calling this jump “one of the worst outbreaks in the country.” His words preceded an announcement of the state’s new COVID-19 Transmission Index, which rates each county’s transmission rates as low, moderate, or high. Grand County – currently in the state’s moderate category – has averaged three cases per day over the last 12 days. And later, we continue an in-depth look at where water and wildfire intersect in the West.

Show Notes:

Photo: Members of an assessment team put together by the U.S. Forest Service are beginning to gather initial information about the Cameron Peak Fire’s intensity, which will affect water quality for years. (Photo Courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Utah COVID-19 Transmission Index

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels/

Southeast Utah Health Dept Total Case Counts

https://www.seuhealth.com/covid-19

10/12/20 Southeast Utah Health Dept ‘Plea for Caution’

KUNC: For The West’s Drinking Water, Wildlife Concerns Linger Long After Smoke Clears

https://www.kunc.org/api-only/2020-10-08/for-the-wests-drinking-water-wildfire-concerns-linger-long-after-smoke-clears