Governor Gary Herbert moved Moab to "Low Risk" public health restrictions along with the majority of the state, ignoring requests from local governments and public health departments for modifications and despite a growing number of COVID-19 cases in the area.
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Overcrowded Arches closes hours after opening; Timed entry system won't be in place until mid-summer
Arches National Park reopened on May 29, with the parks opening the gates and letting in visitors at 6 a.m.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Many eyes were on Zion National Park and other recreational areas during the Memorial Day weekend to see evidence of how limited park operations during the COVID-19 pandemic can address a busy holiday season. Limited operations restrained the usual overcrowding, but concerns remain about how…
How do I recreate responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic? The question weighs heavily for many residents who came to Moab to enjoy its abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities.
Monday, May 25, 2020
The Southeast Utah Health Department confirmed three positive tests for COVID-19 in Grand County from May 22 to May 25.
Friday, May 22, 2020
The Southeast Utah Health Department confirmed an additional confirmed case of COVID-19 in Grand County on May 22, while four previous positive cases were declared "recovered."
While the remainder of Utah was declared to be at “Low Risk” by Gov. Gary Herbert on May 16, Grand County was among a handful of counties and cities to remain with higher restrictions in place.
Photo caption: “If the people can’t go out to hear music, we’re going to bring the music to the people,” said a statement from Moab’s party marching band, the Fiery Furnace Marching Band. With appropriate social distancing precautions, the funky brass band announced that they will be marchin…
After having their senior year in high school curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, some Grand County High School students went to work with staff to design a graduation ceremony that would be memorable, safe and meaningful for all.
Friday, May 15, 2020
With few tourists and months of lost income, many Moab businesses are in a perilous position, balancing economic pressure with concerns about customer and employee safety. Respecting public health orders, each is creating an individual plan for how their business will adapt to the “new normal.”
On May 13, Zion National Park is set to begin a phased reopening amid a nationwide push to reopen businesses and public land. Arches and Canyonlands will follow suit at the end of the month on May 29 after two months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the regular Moab City Council meeting on May 12, the city’s budget was the main topic of discussion. Like the county government, even before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the national and local economies the city was already making tough decisions to balance their budget.
“This couldn’t really have come at a worse time for a lot of people,” said Maria Sykes, executive director of the Green River Epicenter, an arts and affordable housing nonprofit in the rural Emery County city.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks will open its trails and roads to visitors again on May 29 after two months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, May 07, 2020
Moonflower Community Cooperative employee Brad Hanson completes a grocery order for a customer utilizing the store’s curbside pickup service. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in grocer…
Amid all the discussion of science and economics as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Moab area, for some the most important question is clear: how do I pay my rent?
Add field research to the long list of activities delayed or modified because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The two main topics of discussion at the Grand County Council meeting April 30 were the response to the coronavirus pandemic and the county’s grim budget outlook.
Monday, May 04, 2020
The Southeast Utah Health Department confirmed an additional positive test for COVID-19 in Grand County the evening of May 4, after announcing earlier in the day that three previous positive cases were declared "recovered."
Saturday, May 02, 2020
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Friday, May 01, 2020
The revised order for Grand County goes into effect today, allowing some businesses considered high-risk to public health to reopen with safety precautions.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
“People want to go back to work,” said Carl Albrecht, Representative for Utah House District 70, which includes Moab, in an April 23 conversation with the Moab Sun News.
As recent public health orders allow hotels and motels to accept visitors to Moab, Grand County officials sent out a warning to tourists: don't come here thinking you'll hike to Delicate Arch.
At their regular meeting on April 28, Moab City Council heard an extensive update on the coronavirus response from community health leaders, and discussed how state actions may affect local decision-making. They also considered how they will respond to a significant pending oil and gas lease…
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued orders that require all employees of Utah businesses to wear masks. This order goes further than the locally-drafted public health order scheduled to go into effect tomorrow.
Monday, April 27, 2020
UPDATE 5/1/2020: The draft order discussed in this article was revised significantly. Read the update here.
Friday, April 24, 2020
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks usually draw millions of visitors to the Moab area each year—which is the very reason those parks are now closed to the public.
On the same day that the Southeast Utah Health Department confirmed an additional Grand County resident had tested positive for COVID-19, the department also released amendments to the current public health orders for Carbon, Emery and Grand counties.
Another Grand County resident has tested positive as of April 23, the Southeast Utah Health Department reports. The department also added an additional case in Carbon County, bringing the total number in the tri-county area to 11 total cases. A previous patient in Grand County was reported t…
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Over 17% - almost one in five - working people in Grand County filed for unemployment from March 16 to April 5, the highest among all counties and triple the state’s average.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
On April 14, Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced the state’s schools will continue to be closed while students continue learning from home through the end of the year.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Southeast Utah Health Department has been weighing research, guidance from federal health officials and community concerns as they make tough decisions regarding public health orders.
After an informal letter caused confusion among residents, the Southeast Utah Health Department issued a clarification on Saturday, April 11: Moab and southeastern Utah aren’t opening back up anytime soon.
Community members in Bluff have banded together to help their most vulnerable members during the coronavirus pandemic, spending over $10,000 a week to provide supplies to those isolated, and sometimes driving over six hours to deliver groceries.
“We’re at a very early stage of the game with antibody tests for COVID-19,” said Dr. Dylan Cole, chief medical officer at Moab Regional Hospital.
Five days after announcing its debut, Utah discontinued the use of text alerts targeted at travelers along the state line on April 13 after the technology proved to have too many bugs.
The Moab City Council held a special joint meeting with the City Planning Commission on April 14, followed by the regular City Council meeting. The joint meeting focused on the Overnight Accommodations Development Standards that the two bodies have been working on for months. During the regu…
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
The Southeast Utah Health Department renewed a public health order for Carbon, Emery and Grand counties restricting businesses and recommending residents physically distance themselves late on the evening of April 15 for an additional two weeks.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
BREAKING: Today, Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced the state's schools will continue to be closed while students remote learning from home through the end of the year.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Five days after announcing its debut, Utah has discontinued the use of text alerts targeted at travelers along the state line after the technology proved to have too many bugs.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
After an informal letter caused confusion among residents, the Southeast Utah Health Department issued a clarification: Moab and southeastern Utah aren't opening back up anytime soon.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Updated 4/11/2020: Apparently residents were confused by the letter and its ramifications for the area, as the department issued a clarification FAQ less than 24 hours later to clear up misunderstandings about from the plans within. Read more about the clarifications.
“The models are not reality, but they are helpful in allowing us to know what it is that we might see,” Dr. Dylan Cole of Moab Regional Hospital said at the teleconferenced Grand County Council meeting on April 7.
"Easter is typically a time for family gatherings, picnics, and outdoor fun," a statement from the San Juan Public Health Department reads, before noting "this year will require all of us to do things very differently."
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Thursday, April 09, 2020
The Moab Sun News needs your help. Show your support for independent community journalism and receive a digital edition emailed directly to you each week.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
The Moab Sun News needs your help. Show your support for independent community journalism and receive a digital edition emailed directly to you each week.
Thursday, April 02, 2020
The Moab Sun News needs your help. Show your support for independent community journalism and receive a digital edition emailed directly to you each week.
The Moab Sun News needs your help. Show your support for independent community journalism and receive a digital edition emailed directly to you each week.