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March 16, 2020
Dear Governor Herbert,

On behalf of the administration, medical staff, and employees at Moab Regional Hospital, we are writing this
letter to implore you to shut down all non-essential business service in Moab, including restaurants, lodging,
and if within your realm of influence, the National Parks.

We applaud the measures taken thus far in limiting mass gatherings to no more than 100 people and in
closing schools. Most projections place the United States roughly two weeks behind Italy in terms of
projected surge. To avoid the same fate of the number of patients exceeding the capacity of healthcare, 
need to do more NOW.

As our hospital prepares to deal with a surge of patients needing care for we are simultaneously
caring for general medical needs and traumatic injuries that visitors to our area have sustained. According
to the Travel Council, anticipated lodging for next weekend is robust, estimated at being between 75%-90%
of capacity. This will bring approximately 5500-6000 people from all over the country, including areas where
there is community spread of These figure do not take into consideration campgrounds and
diSpersed camping within the area. Although the desert around Moab is vast, the town itself is 
ship with similar isolation and limitations in resources. We are already concerned about how we will
meet the needs of our own community in an epidemic. As a l7-bed critical access hospital, we have no ICU
and minimal capability to care for critical respiratory patients. Additionally, we are now concerned that
tourism will drive the spread of 

Italy had a 24% increase in case count over the last 24 hours. Yesterday?s death toll in Italy, at 366, was
higher than the peak daily death toll in Wuhan Province. Today the reported death rate is 463. We are
estimated to be approximately two weeks behind Italy, and are following closely their exponential rate of
increase in caseload. The things we have done are not enough. Please. Do. More. Now. We wish that all
business owners would make the responsible decision to suspend all non?essential business activities for
two weeks, however, it is sometimes difficult to take action when the sky is still blue and the hurricane is still
out at sea. We need our leaders to take swift, decisive, and drastic action now.

3%

Chief Executive Officer
DO Paul Reay, Dl~
Chief Medical Officer Emergency Department Chair



Whitney Mack, DO
Taskforce

Sincerely,