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Four people who reside at the Utah State Developmental Center have tested positive for the coronavirus, state Department of Human Services officials confirmed Monday.
State officials said that the COVID-19 cases are isolated to a single residential apartment pod in the sprawling state facility, which provides care for people with intellectual disabilities.
State officials said the family members of those who are ill have been notified, as has the staff and local health department.
"Our response to these positive test cases is in keeping with CDC and Utah Department of Health guidelines," a statement reads. "This has included isolation of confirmed residents, quarantine of those who may have been exposed, use of appropriate personal protective equipment and limiting the number of staff who work with affected individuals."
Human Services officials say they’ve been “forward-thinking” amid rising concern of COVID-19 spreading over the past month, and had limited visits to only “essential visitors” since mid-March.
The developmental center’s buildings are now closed to the public.
“We have limited movement of individuals and staff across the campus, as well as doing our best to limit staff to only the units they are assigned to serve,” according to the DHS statement. “We use approved health screens including temperature taking for every staff member who comes to campus, every shift of every day. Each of these strategies and multiple others, are safety-driven to reduce the chance of disease spread.”
