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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXVII Issue VI August 1, 2020 COVID-19 Update at Weber County Jail On Monday, July 6 2020, The Weber County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Utah National Guard and VitalCore Health Strategies, completed another round of mass COVID testing at our facility. In this round of testing, an additional 167 inmates and 27 staff members were tested for COVID-19. The results from this mass testing identified an additional 31 inmates that are positive for COVID-19, bringing our total count to 114 positive cases. All staff member tests returned negative results. In total, we have conducted 390 tests, and have 11 tests pending results. Of all positive cases, 89% remain asymptomatic. Since our first positive case was discovered June 21, 2020, we have taken extreme measures to identify, test, isolate, and quarantine individuals at our facility to contain the community spread within the jail. As of July 10, 2020, the population of the 12th Street facility is 590. The capacity of the 12th Street facility is 888. The population of the Kiesel facility is 54. The capacity of the Kiesel facility is 260. This reduction in population was undertaken to create more space for isolation and quarantine areas within the jail to help alleviate spread. This was accomplished mostly by attrition and more stringent intake procedures. Masks are mandatory for all staff, visitors, and contractors. Masks are provided to and highly encouraged to be worn by the inmates. No force is being used to gain inmate compliance with wearing masks. In April, information from the CDC was posted in all areas of the jail encouraging social distancing, proper hygiene, COVID-19 symp- toms, and prevention measures. This information was posted in English and Spanish. We increased soap and cleaning supplies available to the inmates, and increased general cleaning and sanitation facility-wide. Our top priority is the health and safety of both our inmates and employees. Inmates who have tested positive are being isolated into single cells as much as possible and, where not possible, are being quarantined together with other positives. Our medical staff monitors these individuals daily. Individuals who are positive and those who are symptomatic or have had a known exposure are being evaluated daily by medical staff for symptoms. As inmates are released, our medical staff provides them with COVID educational information. We are also working with the health department and other community partners as we release inmates in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 into our community. We continue identifying inmates who meet the CDC criteria for individuals who are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID19. In an effort to protect these individuals, and to prevent further spread, we are working with the courts to review individuals who could be released or provided alternative sentences. We will continue contact tracing and testing inmates and staff members as appropriate. We are maintaining our personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies. Our COVID response is reviewed daily, and adjusted as needed to address new information we receive. This is done in conjunction with our medical provider VitalCore Health Strategies. We have utilized the resources of the Weber County Emergency Management Division, The Weber-Morgan Health Department, The Utah State Department of Health, local hospitals, and Dr. Newton Kendig (Retired Assistant Surgeon General of the United States). What to Do If You Find a Bat in Your House Though most Utahns probably don’t correlate bats with summer, here’s why you shouldn’t be surprised if you find one in your home this time of year. Utahns may see more bats this time of year because the baby bats (also called pups) are learning to fly and leaving their roost for the first time. Here’s what you should know about bats in Utah and what to do if you encounter them. There are currently 18 confirmed bat species in Utah, but there may be more. They are the only mammals capable of true flight. Bats are found throughout the state and can be abundant wherever they can find food, shelter, and water. The greatest species diversity is in the southern part of Utah. Utah’s bats feed almost exclusively on insects. When insects aren’t available, like during the winter months, the bats typically either migrate or hibernate (although some species do a combination of both and others stay active yearround). Sometimes they hibernate in caves and mines, and recent research in western states has shown that many small bat species also hibernate in crevices in cliffs. Bats in Utah do not usually hibernate in large groups like they do in many eastern states in the U.S. They typically hibernate either in small groups or by themselves. Five Utah species primarily migrate, flying south from late August through October, returning in April and May. “Encounters with bats seem to spike in September as the migratory species, especially the Mexican-free tailed bat, move around the state,” DWR Mammal Conservation Coordinator Kimberly Hersey said. “ If You Discover Bats Roosting in Your Home, What Should You Do? Bats in homes are generally maternity colonies of female bats and their babies. The females typically come out of hibernation and take up residence in a structure to give birth, usually in May or June. They then have their babies and begin to increase their activity to support lactation—this is typically when people begin to notice the bats. The young are also becoming more active and starting to fly, which also draws more attention. “This time frame is the hardest time of year for dealing with bat nuisance issues,” Hersey said. “Since the young can’t fly yet and are reliant on their mother’s milk, preventing the mothers from returning to their roosting spot will kill the babies. Because bats are a protected wildlife species, it’s illegal to kill them. “I’ve also seen where poorly-timed removals lead to bats in attics suddenly finding their way inside someone’s home because the mothers are trying to reach their young. So, unless there is a human health and safety issue where bats are coming into close contact with residents, we do not permit bat colony removal during this time of year. However, actions to prevent them from getting into the living areas can occur. Although it may be inconvenient, after waiting until the young can fly, you can then safely, humanely, and permanently address the problem.” If you suspect there is a colony of bats in your attic, you will need to contact a local, permitted wildlife nuisance control company for help. The DWR will coordinate with that company to authorize the removal at specific times of the year that won’t harm the pups. What to Do If You Discover Bats inside Your House - Because bats can be carriers of rabies, a deadly virus that can be transmitted to people, you should never handle a bat with your bare hands. And if you have physical contact with a bat, contact your local health department for guidance. If you find a bat inside your home, open a door or window, turn off the lights inside your house, and turn on a porch light outside. Leave the room and allow the bat to leave on its own. If the bat does not make its way outside on its own, you can carefully remove it. • Wearing heavy leather gloves, place a small box or can over the bat. • To create a lid, slide a piece of cardboard between the can and the wall or curtain, enclosing the bat inside the container. • Then take the bat outside and release the bat on a tree or other high object. Although COVID-19 originated in bats, there is no indication that North American bats have been exposed to the disease. Because of the remote potential for humans to spread the disease to bats, bats captured in a home with a known or suspected COVID-19 case should not be released. Preventing Bats from Roosting in Your Attic • Cool your attic with fans to make it uncomfortable for bats to take up residence. • Inspect the outside of the building for openings and gaps in siding, chimneys, and roof lines. • Seal cracks and holes with caulking, hardware cloth, foam rubber, foam sealant, tar paper and/or chimney caps. Do not do this, however, when bats have pups in May thru August. Fall is the best time to seal these openings, when bats are vacating roosts. • You can also use bird netting to place over an opening. Staple it down at the top and the sides, leaving the base open. Bats will be able to drop down the netting to leave, but not reenter the roost. Leave it in place for four to five days or until all the bats have left, then seal the holes. Find more tips and safety information on the Wild Aware Utah website. How to prevent injuries and prepare for a safe, successful archery hunt The general-season archery bull elk permits went on sale online on July 16. That archery hunt and the buck mule deer archery hunt begins Saturday, Aug. 15 and runs until Sept 11. If you will be archery hunting this fall, there are several ways you can prepare for the hunt and stay safe while out in the field. While archery hunting doesn’t involve firearms, it does present some unique risks that hunters should be aware of. “Every year, we receive reports of hunters getting injured falling from trees or jabbing themselves or other hunters while carrying arrows in their hands,” said RaLynne Takeda, hunter education program manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Safety Guidelines - With some knowledge and preparation, it is easy to stay safe while hunting. Here are some general safety tips for archery hunting: Tree stand safety - Before placing a portable tree stand in a tree, be sure to check the stand’s weight rating. Make sure it will support both your weight and the weight of your equipment. Another risk is falling while you’re climbing the tree or falling from your stand, once you reach it. Another risk is trying to carry your equipment with you, as you climb the tree. Hunters should not attempt that. Instead, attach a haul line to your equipment, leaving plenty of slack in the line. Then, attach your safety harness to the tree and start climbing, holding the haul line in one hand or tied to your belt. After you’re on your stand, use your haul line to lift your equipment to you. Hunters should remember that it is illegal to build a tree stand on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Only portable stands can be used in those areas. Don’t leave your arrows uncovered Broadhead arrows are extremely sharp, so it is a risk to carry one in your hand or nock one in your bow before you’re ready to shoot. Hunters should not remove arrows from their quiver until it’s time to shoot. Know your target - Never take a shot at a deer or an elk that is beyond the maximum range you’re comfortable shooting. Also, before you release your arrow, make sure of your target and what’s beyond it. You can get a free copy of the 2020 guidebook on the DWR website. |