Utah health officials are worried that the state is in the beginning stages of a significant spike in COVID-19 cases as a new high of more than five-hundred were reported Saturday.

Department of Health spokesman, Tom Hudachko, says we're not out of the woods and there is no specific reasoning for the surge as it's been expected from the state loosening restrictions and people reconnecting.

He then highlighted an outbreak coming from a meat-packaging plant in Cache County, but the state's infection rate is rising regardless of that single example.

Epidemiologist Michelle Vowles says some of the hardest hit areas are minority communities and attributes the surge in cases to people gathering for Memorial Day weekend.

She urges everyone to take personal responsibility and wear masks, wash their hands and stay away from others to limit the spread of the virus.

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