SALT LAKE CITY – While health officials continue to call for caution while Utah fights the coronavirus pandemic, many communities are moving forward with New Year’s Eve celebrations designed to sound safe in what everyone hopes will be a much better year than 2020.
There are still opportunities to catch fireworks and events on Thursday night. But, as Intermountain’s doctor, Dr. Edward Stenehjem, said in a question and answer session on Wednesday, Utahns must take the same precautions recommended before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“In this holiday season, our recommendation is to gather only people in your home,” said Stenehjem. “Do not invite other people because they may have the virus, symptomatic or asymptomatic, that can transmit the virus. This is also what we recommend on Thanksgiving Day, according to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our community the transmission rate is very high. “
The continuous average of positive COVID-19 tests in Utah is 25% over seven days. “There is still a lot of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Stenehjem.
The state has put together its own tips for safe holiday celebrations on its coronavirus page.
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart … This year, to save me from tears, please distance yourself physically and wear a mask. Please don’t give COVID to someone special.
– Utah State COVID-19 response (@UtahCoronavirus) December 29, 2020
“The more people from different families a person interacts in a meeting, the closer the physical interaction is, and the longer the interaction lasts, the greater the risk that a person who has COVID-19 may pass it on to other people, be she or she has symptoms or not, “says the state.
It recommends that meetings be kept as small as possible and that participants wear masks indoors, at a physical distance, practice good hygiene and do not participate in events if they are ill or exposed to COVID-19.
Modified events
The annual report “Last Hurray!” The celebration was a few years ago, but it has already become the biggest New Year’s Eve party in the state. This year, live entertainment and fireworks will be back, but organizers are encouraging people to tune in online instead of attending in person.
There will be people live at the event, as The Gateway sold a limited number of tickets for families to enjoy the outdoor show in the main square area. The parties will be physically distanced, masked and will have a designated place; however, tickets to the event are sold out. Interested Utahns can still be placed on a waiting list if a registered party is unable to attend.
For everyone else, The Gateway encourages Utahns to broadcast the action live from home. “People can go to lasthurrahslc.com or atthegateway.com and they will be able to see the band’s performances, countdown and fireworks,” said Jacklyn Briggs, marketing manager at Gateway. “There will be live scenes from The Gateway so that people can have a local experience in the comfort and safety of their homes.”
The entertainment will begin at 11pm with music from the local act The Cool featuring Bri Ray.
Some Gateway dining options will be open late, too, including HallPass and Dave & Buster’s, as well as The Store grocery store. “Anyone who goes down is welcome to open merchants,” said Briggs. “Only as a reminder, however, these will reach capacity because they have a certain amount of space that, once filled, will not allow more people to enter. So it is the first to arrive, first to be served.”
The plaza area will be isolated only for ticket holders.
This is the gift you can give us. Wear a mask, make your social distance, minimize your contacts so you are not contributing to the continuous transmission of this virus.
–Dr. Edward Stenehjem, Intermountain physician
Elsewhere in Utah, Provo is hosting a drive-in fireworks celebration with shows at 9 pm and midnight. The Living Planet Aquarium is hosting a “New Year’s Eve” event, there is a holiday laser show continuing at the Maverik Center and the popular Luminaria light show at Thanksgiving Point is having a sold out New Year event with fireworks.
Of course, there will be crowded parties and gatherings and bars. But there are safer options this New Year’s Eve and, as Stenehjem said during the Intermountain presentation, the best way to thank Utah healthcare professionals this holiday season “is to not receive COVID and not transmit COVID to anyone.”
“This is the gift you can give us,” he said. “Wear a mask, make your social distance, minimize your contacts so you are not contributing to the continuous transmission of this virus.”
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Graham Dudley