Utah Gov. Cox lifts the state mask mandate in schools for the final week of in-person classes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. — In Governor Cox’s weekly planned televised press briefing regarding COVID updates he announced moments ago that he’s lifting the state mask mandate in schools for the final week of in-person classes. Starting on the Monday of this year’s last week of school, which is a different week for many districts, masks will not be a requirement in the schools. He looks forward to students having the opportunity to connect with teachers, whom they may never have completely met face-to-face, sans mask, all year. Also, the children can then have that final week of simply seeing their friend’s faces.

Cox stated that since the COVID vaccinations had been extended yesterday to include eligibility for Utah’s 12 to 15-year-olds that his own 14-year-old son was going to soon get the shot. Students and staff may still choose to wear masks at school if they and their families make that decision amongst themselves.

He mentioned other states incentivizing vaccinations via college tuition drawings, giving away fishing licences and million-dollar lotteries. Utah, Cox explained, is looking seriously into a similar lottery-style incentivization plan, however, he noted that being the nongambling state that it is, a lot of  ‘i’s would still need to be dotted and a lot of ‘t’s would still need to be crossed before that plan is finalized.

The Park City School District is one of the few districts in the entire country that has been open so successfully this year.