SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The governor of Utah says nine rural counties will move into the green health risk status beginning Friday after recording some of the state’s lowest COVID-19 case counts and hospitalization rates. KUTV-TV reported that the counties are Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Uintah and Wayne. Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says rural communities have been able to enjoy wider physical distancing, and smaller, less densely populated towns. He says no area is completely free from risk, but the state feels comfortable having these sparsely populated regions transition from yellow to green.