From the Managing Director
 

Tourism Colleagues,

Our friend Julie Hollist Terrill, director of Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, recently spent nine agonizing days in the hospital with COVID-19. She is courageously laying out her story as a cautionary tale to all of us. Watch for Julie and her husband Jesse on KSL News at 6 p.m. tonight. And her column in the Logan Herald Journal last weekend is a must-read, especially if you are on the fence about masking up and social distancing.

Be safe, my friends. I am grateful for my association with all of you. And our best to you in your continued recovery, Julie. 


Vicki Varela
Managing Director
Utah Office of Tourism

• If you own a small business and someone gets sick or is exposed to COVID-19, you could feel a greater impact being short-handed. 
• The Small Business Quarantined Employee Grant uses Federal CARES Act funds to reimburse employers of fewer than 50 employees to pay employees to stay home during quarantine or isolation for a maximum of two 40-hour weeks. Reimbursements can only be given for paid time since Oct. 1.
• The program ends once the funds have been used and is on a first come, first serve basis. 
• Visit laborcomission.utah.gov to learn more about the grant.

• Some may think not getting tested for COVID-19 will keep the number of cases down. This actually causes the virus to spread if you don’t know that you are sharing the disease with others.
• As we decrease the number of people who are exposed, we have fewer people who will need to quarantine or isolate. This helps keep our schools and businesses open. 
• If you are sick or if you came into close contact with someone who tested positive while they had symptoms, you should get tested.
• Everyone with any COVID-19 symptom can get a test, even if a teacher, coach or doctor tells you to wait. Those symptoms are fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, sore throat, or decrease in smell or taste. Be sure to stay home while you wait for test results.
• To find a public testing location near you, visit coronavirus.utah.gov