Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell Appear In New #TestUtahChallenge PSA for Coronavirus

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell continue to do their part to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Rudy Gobert

The Jazz big man sent out a tweet on Thursday asking Utahns to go to testutah.com to take part in an online assessment to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted the state of Utah, and whether they should seek testing.

Gobert was one of the first Utahns to test positive for the virus and was the first NBA player to have his diagnosis reported. Within hours of Gobert’s positive test the NBA suspended its season indefinitely while the United States gained a familiar face to identify with the pandemic.

“Let’s get Utah back on the court,” Gobert says in the video, “Go to testutah.com today for your online assessment, and let’s crush the curve.”

We can “Crush the Curve” and get Utah back on the court. How are you doing it @SpencerJCox @lhm @orrinhatch @RyanQualtrics @VivintHome #TestUtahChallenge pic.twitter.com/ODG7A7sL3g

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 2, 2020

Using the hashtag #TestUtahChallenge, visitors to the site are informed of the value of testing and can take a short assessment to see if they should consider getting tested themselves.

Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell echoed Gobert’s sentiments encouraging people to “crush this curve.”

Let’s get Utah back in the game and “Crush the Curve” @kalanifsitake @UtahCoachWhitt @RyanQualtrics . Show us your best video #TestUtahChallenge pic.twitter.com/Iamc7h0p9V

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 3, 2020

“Together we can get Utah back in the game,” said Mitchell in the video posted to Twitter.

He also challenged BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake and Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham to do their own PSA.

“TestUtah is a new initiative sponsored through Silicon Slopes and in partnership with our state leaders and private corporations,” The site states, “Our goal is to dramatically increase the rate of COVID-19 testing so Utahns can have better access to testing and help stem the spread of COVID-19, to get us back to normal as quickly as possible.”

We’re grateful to have #TestUtah up and running. Visit https://t.co/SFfv6LysCL to take an assessment to see if you should be tested for COVID-19. We hope to have tests for everyone who wants them soon — but right now, we are focusing on testing those who are symptomatic.

— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) April 2, 2020

Should users opt to take the assessment, they’ll be asked to provide personal information including their name, address, age, phone number, and gender.

Users are then asked if they themselves are experiencing symptoms, hare have been in contact wth someone experiencing respiratory infection symptoms (e.g. cough, fever) in the last two weeks.

The assessment asks if the user has attempted to find testing, before asking if they have conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, are smokers, or have other conditions. Then, users are asked if they are practicing social distancing, what professional industry they work in, and if they currently have adequate housing.

At the end of the assessment, users are told to watch for follow up communication regarding the results of their assessment.

The website notes that drive-through locations are available now in Provo and Orem, and new testing locations are being added to accommodate 3000+ tests per day, though users are reminded that “it is important that testing be used for those who need it the most.”

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 services 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.