All COVID-19 health orders terminated, except K-12

During the Utah 2021 General Legislative Session earlier this year, the Legislature passed HB294, Pandemic Emergency Power Amendments. The bill, signed into law by Governor Cox, outlined three thresholds that needed to be met to end the COVID-19 health orders that placed restrictions and mandates — including mask mandates — on the people, businesses, institutions and other organizations of Utah.

The thresholds were today met causing the termination of all COVID-19 health orders including all mask mandates. Students attending K-12 are not included who will still be required to wear masks until June 1 or the last day of school, whichever comes first. Additionally, private organizations and institutions may still require masks and social distancing if they choose.

The required thresholds that have been met include:

• 14-day case rate less that 191 per 100,000 (currently 163.4)

• 7-day average COVID-19 ICU utilization less than 15% (currently 11.2%)

• More than 1,633,000 prime doses of COVID-19 vaccine allocated to the state (currently 1,656,025)

The original bill included eliminating mask restrictions on students in grades K-12, but during negotiations with the Governor’s office, that restriction was left in the final draft to avoid a veto of the entire bill. It is unfortunate that our students will still need to wear masks. As your representative, I’ve received many calls from families about our students still being forced to wear masks to school. I completely empathize with these families and wish that this wasn’t the case. The legislature could possibly take this up in the upcoming special session to be called by the Governor, but it would only potentially stop the mandate a few weeks before the current timeframe.

There will be no school mask mandates this fall.

In celebration of the lifting of these health orders, I will be holding a mask burning BBQ at my home once the student mask mandate is over. Watch for more details to come.

A word about COVID-19

The virus is real. It has made many people sick, very sick and even caused painful deaths. We all realize that the majority of people who became ill with the virus had mild symptoms and quickly recovered. We all also realize that many people suffered for longer periods of time and may have long-term side affects. Still yet, we probably all know people who suffered greatly due to the virus and nearly died, or did die. The people who I know who nearly died or died, suffered greatly for long periods of time. Those that survived will have long, long periods of recuperation and rehabilitation.

Please. Don’t catch the virus! It is still among us and will be for a long time.

It is your choice, it is my choice, but I would recommend seriously considering:

• Getting the vaccination.

• When necessary, practice standard cold and flu season precautions:

  • Keeping your distance

  • Washing hands

  • Avoid shaking hands etc.

  • Cough or sneeze into your sleeve

  • Stay home if you’re sick