SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency Friday over the new coronavirus, though he said no cases have been detected in the state.

Rather, the declaration helps the state access more money and resources to be prepared for the expected arrival of the virus, he said. The additional funding “will be instrumental in helping us prepare to slow the spread of coronavirus,” said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who is leading a task force dealing with the virus.

The panel is making plans to reach out to vulnerable populations, increase testing capacity and ensure access to remote health care.

Though no cases have been detected in Utah, one resident who caught it abroad has been taken back to the state for treatment. Neighboring states like Nevada and Colorado have identified their first cases.

Authorities recommend people take preventative steps like washing hands, disinfecting shared surfaces and covering coughs. Anyone with symptoms matching coronavirus, including a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, is asked to stay away from public spaces.

Nationally, the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 14, with all but one victim in Washington state. The number of infections swelled to over 200, scattered across about half the states.

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered.



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