SALT LAKE CITY — Utah County is now in the "moderate" transmission level for COVID-19, Gov. Spencer Cox announced Thursday during his weekly coronavirus news conference, and can relax some restrictions in restaurants and entertainment venues. There are now 18 total Utah counties in the moderate transmission level, including Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Washington. The rating is based on the state's COVID-19 Transmission Index, which was developed last year to tailor coronavirus rules and restrictions to each county's needs based on how the coronavirus is spreading — instead of issuing blanket, statewide directives. Utah, Tooele, Iron and Sevier counties were all downgraded to moderate transmission from the "high" transmission level this week. "It's a really big deal for Utah County to now be moving to moderate," Cox said, as the county has been under high transmission rules since the Transmission Index was created.