Utah HC Kyle Whittingham Urges Everyone To Follow Guidelines From Health Experts

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham is urging fans to follow the guidelines from health officials in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.

Whittingham issued a video statement on Twitter on Tuesday.

“We know this is a very difficult time for everybody,” Whittingham said. “I want to thank all of those that are working so hard to protect the health of people around the world fighting the spread of the coronavirus. We all need to do our part to follow the guidelines of health experts. Stay active and healthy, practice social distancing, don’t gather in large groups and wash your hands often.”

“Do this for your health and the health of others,” Whittingham continued. “We all want to get back to doing the things we love to do, so it is critically important right now to focus on our role in fighting this battle. It’s better that we do our part now, the sooner we can resume those activities that we all enjoy. We will get through this but it is so important that we all do everything we can to help slow the spread. It’s on all of us. Stay safe and go Utes!”

We’re all in this together. Hope everyone is staying safe out there!! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/QALHpfTr7n

— Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) March 24, 2020

Utah and the Pac-12 have suspended athletics indefinitely due to the coronavirus concerns.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth service through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If  you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.