Published using Google Docs
COVID-19 Updates
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

Spanish Fork - COVID-19 Updates

Updates regarding the impact of COVID-19 in Spanish Fork City will be posted here.

Celebrating Life Events

COVID-19 has caused many of us to rethink how we celebrate life events, including birthdays, weddings, and funerals. In the following video, City Councilman Brandon Gordon talks about how his family celebrated his daughter’s wedding and son’s birthday while also following the directive to Stay Safe, Stay Home.

https://www.facebook.com/SpanishForkCity/videos/1487090061461018

Mayor’s Message

This is the first in a series of videos that the Mayor and City Council have put together about what they’re doing while also following the Governor’s directive to Stay Safe, Stay Home.

https://www.facebook.com/SpanishForkCity/videos/687715991997397

Face Coverings

The Utah Department of Health and the CDC recommend wearing a face covering if you need to leave your home for essential travel (like buying groceries, picking up medications, or going to work) or when in a place where social distancing principles are difficult to maintain.

Want to make your own face covering? The CDC has instructions on how to sew your own, or for those who aren’t great with a sewing maching, how to make one using a t-shirt or bandana. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Utility Assistance Program Donations

Utility Assistance Program. 100% of donations help low-income individuals and families with their utility bills. Sign up for monthly recurring donations or make a one-time donation. Sign up at bit/ly/SFC-UAP.

The Utility Assistance Program is a voluntary program to help low-income individuals and families with their utility bills. 100 percent of your donations are placed into a fund that is exclusively used for low-income utility assistance in Spanish Fork.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in both the number of unpaid utility accounts and requests for assistance through the assistance program. Unfortunately, the donations we have received are not keeping up with the assistance needed in our community. If you would like to contribute to the utility assistance program, you can do so through either a one-time donation or by rounding up your utility bill to the nearest dollar each month.

Click here to enroll in utility bill roundup donations.

Click here to make a one-time donation.

Learn more about the program here.

COVID-19 and Mental Health

Just as it's important to maintain your physical wellness while following the Governor's directive to stay safe, stay home, it is also important to maintain your mental wellness. Spanish Fork 17 interviewed Randy Huntington with Wasatch Mental Health to discuss ways to manage our mental health during this time.

Other mental health resources include:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 (or text TalkWithUs to 66746) – provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by developments related to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about the Disaster Distress Helpline at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

Utah Department of Human Services: Your Mental Health & COVID-19 (https://hs.utah.gov/portfolio-item/your-mental-health-and-covid-19)

Screenshot of Sustaining mental health during COVID-19 video

Internet Safety: Phishing Emails & Online Scams

Phishing scams are on the rise. Some examples include fake utility bills and federal stimulus package information.

Always be alert when receiving links in emails and other sites. They could appear to be from a legitimate source but be designed to harm your computer or steal your personal information.

Learn more about internet safety in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNNX8BiYO7A

Screenshot of Internet safety: Phishing emails & online scams video

Consider the following before calling 911

Before calling 911, is this a real emergency? (chest pains, stroke symptoms, serious trauma, trouble breathing, other serious conditions) - CALL 911 Is it a minor emergency? (do you really need an ambulance? are there other transportation options? can my injury be addresses in urgent care or my primary heath care provider? If you have questions about COVID-19, call the Utah Coronavirus Information Line (1-800-456-7707). Every time an ambulance is placed in service for a minor injury or illness there is one less ambulance available for to respond to life-threatening emergencies in the community.

Our emergency response teams are working extra hard to keep us safe during this pandemic. Please consider the following before calling for an ambulance:

Remember, we need to keep our ambulances available for life-threatening emergencies. Together we can all help fight COVID-19.

WHAT NOT TO FLUSH

Many of you looking for toilet paper may think that items such as napkins, paper towels, tissues, or even flushable wipes are ok to flush down the toilet -- they are not. These items are the leading cause of sewer backups because, while they may go down the toilet, they do not dissolve like toilet paper does. Because they do not dissolve, they often create blockages in sewer lines, resulting in costly sewer backups. If you are unable to purchase toilet paper, please do not flush "alternatives" down the toilet. Watch the video HERE.

Other Sources

For more information regarding COVID-19, we recommend residents refer to reliable sources, including the following: