Cache County votes to move to green
The Cache County Council voted six-to-one to request that the county move to “Green” or new normal on June 9.
In a press release from the council, they expressed their support to move to Green in the state’s health guidance system to allow groups to gather and businesses to reopen.
“We want to make clear that our request to move to Green was not an endorsement of reckless behavior nor do we believe COVID-19 is not a serious issue within our community,” the press release stated. “We are concerned for those affected by the increases in domestic violence. We are concerned about the physical and mental health of the unemployed, the furloughed, and the business owners trying to make ends meet and feed their families.”
The release asked citizens to continue staying home if unwell, wear masks, wash hands frequently and be patient to those who “see this situation differently.”
While Cache County can vote to request a move to Green, the decision will come from state officials. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has acknowledged the request.
“The Cache County Council certainly has the right and the responsibility to analyze the data and make their request for whatever they think is best for Cache County,” Gov. Herbert said. “The process is, it starts with them but they may have to work with the Bear River Health Department to see if they agree with their request. If they can’t get that first level there’s no sense submitting it to the state.”
County Council members David Erickson, Paul Borup and Gina Worthen declined an interview to discuss their vote. Erickson and Worthen referred to their press releases instead, and Borup suggested going to the public affairs department.
Jon White, the council member representing the South District, was the only one out of the seven members to vote against the move to Green.
White said the council has been wanting to move to Green for a while and called the June 9 vote “premature.”
“You’re sending the wrong message when there’s a spike and all of the sudden there’s more cases and you want to down low the concern,” he said. “ I was worried about our health and whether our hospitals can hold these new cases.”
White said he knows the valley has been doing the best they can, but the spread still happened, so steps need to be taken.
“We need to show more concern and be more careful and educated,” he said. “Definitely don’t go Green. Tell people to wash their hands and wear masks and socially distance. I felt that if we turn Green, you’re saying the worry’s over. I don’t think the worry is over.”
White said he expected one or two of his fellow council members to agree with him, and was surprised none of them did.
“I think there’s been a lot of pressure about the economy and different things,” he said.
White said he’s worried people will stop worrying and not take the situation seriously in the Green phase.
“Everyone’s saying the threat’s over, have your meetings, groups, whatever you want to do, don’t worry,” he said. “I don’t think that’s right. I think you still have to treat it like Yellow but they don’t have that same idea when you’re Green.”
White said his message to the county is still to wash hands, wear masks and don’t meet in groups.
“Nobody wants to take your rights away,” he said. “All we want to do is protect the rights of others as well. I think that’s the job of the council, to protect everybody’s health. We’ll get through it but I don’t think we’re at the Green point yet.”
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