On March 29, 2020, Salt Lake County issued a new public health order to enact further protections designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of some businesses. The new order, called “Salt Lake County: Stay Safe. Stay Home,” is effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 30, and will be in place until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 13. The order:
- Directs all individuals to stay at home except to engage in essential activities, which includes going to work under the conditions outlined in the order.
- Matches earlier county and state public health orders regarding food service operations.
- Closes certain businesses that act as gathering places or involve close contact between people. (see chart below or click here to read the order)
- Closes children’s playgrounds and prohibits team sports, including pickup games, though outdoor sport courts and fields will remain open for individual and for individuals that reside in the same household. Residents are asked to responsibly enjoy recreational amenities by always maintaining 6 feet from people outside of their household.
- Requires businesses to actively enforce social distancing practices and exclude ill employees from working; social distancing should include at least 6-feet between all people in the establishment, and workers symptomatic with respiratory illness or fever must not be present under any circumstances.
- Defines essential businesses that should do their best to comply with social distancing recommendations but, due to the nature of their operations, may be unable to fully comply and are therefore exempt from order enforcement. Essential businesses must still exclude ill employees from working.
State law requires penalties for violating a local public health order. While penalties outlined by state code classify the offense as a misdemeanor (class B for the initial offense, class A for repeat offenses), Salt Lake County has asked local municipalities to enforce the public health order initially via warnings rather than citations. Repeat or egregious offenders may be cited and charged.
Related Information
- Utah Governor Issues "Stay Safe, Stay Home" Directive
- Riverton City Encourages Residents to Support Local Restaurants Amit COVID-19 Dine-In Restrictions
- Riverton Mayor Issues Statement Regarding Salt Lake County's Order to Limit Public Gatherings
- Riverton City Lifts Temporary Signage Restricts for Businesses
- Riverton Mayor Declares Local State of Emergency
- Mayoral Directive Issued to Riverton City Staff on COVID-19
- Riverton City COVID-19 Resident Advisory
- Riverton City COVID-19 Website
- Riverton City COVID-19 Business Resources Website