Summit County Public Health Order provides metrics for mask requirement in elementary schools

Student in mask Photo: Kelly Sikkema

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah. — A Public Health Order issued by Summit County Health Director Dr. Phil Bondurant will require face-coverings if any individual elementary school campus reaches a two-percent 14-day COVID-19 positivity rate among the total number of students, staff and faculty.

The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25.

“We recognize there are very strong opinions on both sides of the mask discussion,” Summit County Health Director, Dr. Phil Bondurant said in a statement.

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“Ultimately, I want to provide the safest, healthiest learning environment in Summit County schools for the upcoming school year while allowing for parental choice. Masks are not a failproof solution to eliminate COVID-19. However, it is well documented that masks are an effective strategy to minimize illness. This approach allows us to actively monitor the situation and provide interventions before an outbreak occurs. In the end, our goal is to help keep kids in school and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission until vaccines become available for children.”

Summit County Council Chair Glenn Wright said in a statement. “We support Dr. Bondurant’s approach and do not currently intend to consider termination of this Public Health Order. This course of action was taken after careful consideration of the county’s legal authorities and recent public input.”

The order comes after the Summit County Council, the County Manager, and the County Health Director consulted with the State Board of Education over the past week to determine legal power and authority. The Summit County Attorney’s Office approved the order of constraint as to form which is its certification that it is a lawful and legally enforceable document.

Per Utah legislation, this Order will be reviewed in thirty days.