SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has issued an emergency proclamation for the city as COVID-9 (novel coronavirus) continues to spread.
“While there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Salt Lake City, it is important that we act preemptively to prepare now. Doing so will help us to ensure our city’s financial stability, and the continuity of vital operations in the event that we experience the spread of this virus,” Mayor Mendenhall said in a news release. “This declaration will equip us with necessary resources and abilities should the need arise.”
The declaration ensures the city will have access to state and federal funding and assistance.
"It also allows Mayor Mendenhall to invoke rules in order to protect the citizens of Salt Lake City, including ingress or egress restrictions, curfew, and other preventative actions to ensure the safety of the City’s citizens," the news release said.
Mayor Mendenhall's declaration of a local emergency follows Utah Governor Gary Herbert's executive order, which was issued Friday, to declare a state of emergency in Utah due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.
"The emergency powers and operations of Salt Lake City are hereby invoked and Salt Lake City's personnel and resources are ordered and authorized to perform all functions authorized by federal, state, and local law to address this local emergency," the proclamation says.
The local emergency proclamation for Salt Lake City has a duration of 30 days unless the city council grants an extension.
The Utah Department of Health has thus far announced two "presumptive positive" COVID-19 cases: one in Davis County and one in Weber County.
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