Utah declares state of emergency over surge in Covid cases

State will introduce mandatory order on mask wearing as emergency declared

(AP)

Utah governor Gary Herbert has issued a state of emergency over an “unsustainable” up-tick in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations across the state.  

The Republican governor on Sunday used Twitter to announce the emergency, as well as a number of preventative measures.  

They include a statewide mandate on mask wearing, a ban on social gatherings with other households, and the suspension of extracurricular activities in state schools.

College students, at the same time, will be tested for the coronavirus weekly, in a bid to stop outbreaks on college campuses.

"Due to the alarming rate of Covid infections within our state, tonight I issued a new state of emergency with several critical changes to our response,” wrote Mr Herbert.

He added: “These changes are not shutting down our economy, but are absolutely necessary to save lives and hospital capacity".

His announcement came as Utah recorded over 2,000 new cases for the first time on Friday, with 2,897 new cases in one day, according to John Hopkins University.

The state also broke a daily record for the number of deaths from the disease on Friday, with 16 recorded.

Utah, along with more than half of all states, have now introduced mandates on mask wearing since the pandemic started.

Those orders have come in apparent opposition to the White House and president Donald Trump, who have not enforced such measures nationwide.

Joe Biden, who became president elect on Saturday, has suggested that he would implement a nationwide mask mandate once he assumes office in January, as part of a plan to manage the pandemic in the United States.

More than 10 million Americans have now contracted the virus, and almost 240,000 have died, since Covid-19 reached the US.

On Monday, Pfizer, the American pharmaceutical giant, announced it had developed a potential coronavirus vaccine with 90 per cent effectiveness, leading to hopes that the pandemic can be brought under control.