In a statewide address to the people of Utah, Governor Gary Herbert announced a new state of emergency for COVID-19 that includes a statewide mask mandate, limits on social gatherings and a hold on extracurricular activities in schools.
The address came late Sunday after an emergency alert was sent out by the state to every cell phone in Utah. The state has recorded thousands of new cases of the virus in the past week, with the death toll climbing and hospitals nearing capacity.
"The stakes are high. Lives are at risk as COVID-19 cases surge and we report record hospitalizations and new deaths day-after-day. Our hospitals are full. This threatens patients who rely on hospital care — for everything from COVID-19 to emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, surgeries, and trauma. We must work together to keep infections low until a vaccine is available," the governor said.
Gov. Herbert announced the new public health orders, which go into effect at 1pm Monday, will include:
A statewide mask mandate that requires people to wear masks in public, within 6-feet of someone they do not live with. The mandate is enforceable in all business settings, with signage requirements. Businesses that fail to do so will be subject to fines.
Casual social gatherings will be limited to household-only until Nov. 23.
All extracurricular school activities — including intramural events — are on hold for the duration of the order. The only exception is college football games or high school championship games that are willing to follow testing and crowd size restrictions outlined in the public health order.
Students at college campuses across Utah will be required to be tested for COVID-19 weekly. FOX 13 first reported on the plan on Friday, which will include deployment of rapid tests that can deliver results in 15 minutes.
The Utah National Guard will be deployed to help with more contact tracing to get a handle on the spread of the virus in communities and quarantine people.
Violations of the public orders can bring fines up to $10,000 per incident, and will be enforced by health officials and law enforcement. They will expire on Nov. 23 unless extended by Gov. Herbert.
The move comes as Utah's political leaders have faced increasing pressure to do something as COVID-19 cases surge. The governor has been heavily criticized by some public health workers, even has he has defended the state's response as a balance of "lives and livelihoods," between health and the economy.
I know it's just a few dozen people, but I still had to shake my head...check out the photos in the article...it's like a meeting of the Flat Earth Society...
quote:
Hours after Gov. Gary Herbert’s statewide mask mandate took effect, roughly 50 people gathered outside the Governor’s Mansion on South Temple in Salt Lake City to protest what they say is government overreach and an infringement on their rights.
“He doesn’t have the authority to tell us what to do in our own lives, in our homes and what we wear,” said Ken Whetstone, who braved Monday’s freezing temps and light snow to gather outside.
Carrying signs that read “Tyranny spreads COVID-19,” “No dictator Herbert” and “Our immune system is our God given PPE,” the crowd started small Monday afternoon, growing to about 50 people by 5 p.m.
