LOCAL DECLARATION NO. 2020-11

Declaring a State of Local Emergency in Washington County, Utah
Due to COVID-19 and Authorizing Economic Stabilization Measures

WHEREAS, Washington County in conjunction with Southwest Utah Public Health Department is responding to a worldwide crisis caused by the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first detected in China in December 2019 and continues to expand in a growing number of countries, including the United States, and is now present in the State of Utah;

WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, Governor Gary R. Herbert issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency due to novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19);

WHEREAS, the Governor’s Executive Order recognizes the need for state and local authorities, and the private sector to cooperate to slow the spread of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic;

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a National State of Emergency based on the continuing spread of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued guidelines to help protect Americans during the global COVID-19 outbreak;

WHEREAS, measures have been put in place to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 that include closing area schools and Dixie State University, limiting restaurants to take-out meals, and limiting group size to less than 10 individuals;

WHEREAS, these prevention measures are impacting the area economy and especially the area tourism industry.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Utah Code Annotated Section 53-2a-208, on behalf of the citizens of Washington County, the Washington County Commission declares Washington County to be in a state of “Local Emergency”

BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that all reasonable steps should be taken to stabilize the area’s economy. Three such measures include:

• Launching a “Stay Greater” Campaign to encourage frequenting area restaurants for take-out meals;
• Establishing a Small Business Stabilization Loan Program involving county, municipal, private, state, and federal partners to provide low-interest loans to small businesses that are impacted by the COVID-19 prevention measures; and
• Distributing accurate information regarding COVID-19’s spread and appropriate prevention measures to the area’s population especially those that are most vulnerable and with limited access to media outlets.

VOTED UPON AND PASSED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION AT AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION HELD ON THE 20^TH DAY OF MARCH 2020.

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– Local Declaration No. 2020-11