There s a new way to explore Utah this Memorial Day weekend.
The Utah Natural History Museum kicked off the Explorer Corps Tuesday, a scavenger hunt for markers recognizing iconic natural or cultural history in each of the state s 29 counties. People should experience not just the Mighty Five, but all of the beautiful places off the beaten paths, Utah Office of Tourism Director Vicki Varella said at the kickoff event.
Locals and visitors can find the markers through the Explorer Corp app or through a paper passport found online or at a local library.
In Washington County, the metal marker can be found in La Verkin s Confluence Park.
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:
The school year is almost over but not quite. And with new guidelines from the CDC earlier this month, some districts are changing their mask policies. In Utah, Governor Spencer Cox lifted all mask mandates within schools for the last week of the year. That s coming up very soon. Stephanie Gonzalez teaches fifth grade in West Valley City, Utah, and she joins us now. Hello.
STEPHANIE GONZALEZ: Hi.
GONZALEZ: I teach fifth grade, the best grade.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: The best grade. Tell me why. Why is it a good grade?
GONZALEZ: Oh, it s just so fun. They just - they start to get sarcasm. They re figuring out who they are. I just love their little personalities.
Credit Arizona Department Of Health Services
Although hospitalization rates are decreasing and vaccination rates are increasing, ICU use in Utah is still considered high.
According to Governor Spencer Cox, as soon as vaccinations were available to Utahns over age 65, people ages 65 to 84 went from being the most hospitalized group in the state to the third most hospitalized group.
“It shows that vaccinations absolutely work, Gov. Cox said.
During the Thursday COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Cox said although overall hospitalization rates have decreased, ICUs are still at 72% capacity which is considered high use.
Gov. Cox said he believes hospitalization rates from COVID-19 will continue to improve as more and more Utahns receive the vaccine.