Salt Lake County Council overturns mask requirement for students

Photo: Mika Baumeister

SALT LAKE CITY — On Thursday in a 6-3 party-line vote, the Salt Lake County Council overturned the mask requirement implemented this week for K-6 students by Salt Lake County Health Director Angela Dunn.

Earlier this week, Dunn issued an “order of constraint” requiring children under the age of 12 to wear facemasks when school starts next week. The rule would only apply to indoor settings and would have only remained in place for 30 days because of state laws.

Republicans on the council voted to overturn the order.

Both Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall denounced the move.

“By ignoring science and Dr. Dunn’s expertise, the County Council’s vote makes our community less safe and puts our children at risk,” Mendenhall wrote in a tweet. “SLC is evaluating its options.”

“I chose to issue a mask order because the delta variant is a serious threat to children and our current transmission rates require a strong intervention—one proven effective last school year,” Health Director Angela Dunn said in a statement.

“Though the order will not stand, I’m optimistic that issuing it clearly signaled my level of concern as a medical professional, and that it will help more parents choose to send their children to school in masks.”

Today was not the County Council Republicans’ finest hour. Against the recommendation of medical experts, and those working diligently to control the spread of COVID, they chose to overturn a well-thought-out health policy moved by @SaltLakeHealth Director @DrAngelaCDunn. (1/4)

— Mayor Jenny Wilson (@SLCoMayor) August 12, 2021