New mask mandate for Summit County public spaces & lines starting Jan. 7

A new Summit County public health order requires face masks in public indoor spaces and queueing lines. Photo: Kai Pilger

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — In response to the Omicron surge the Summit County Health Department has issued a new public health order beginning January 7, 2022. The order states that all individuals living within or visiting Summit County, Utah, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face-coverings while inside public indoor facilities or waiting in lines. This Order begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, January 7, 2022 and is currently in effect until 5 p.m. on February 21, 2022.

“This was not an easy decision and certainly not an action we wanted to take at this stage of the pandemic,” Dr. Bondurant said. “I am especially concerned for our front line workers, our children and staff in schools and the current strain on our healthcare system. Masks combined with vaccines are critical tools to help us weather this surge and protect our critical services.”

According to the Utah Department of Health, as of January 4, 2022, 86.4% of all ICU beds within the State of Utah were occupied. “When 85% capacity is reached, Utah will be functionally out of staffed ICU beds, indicating an overwhelmed hospital system.”

Exemptions include:

• Individuals under two years of age, those with medical conditions, impairments, or disabilities that prevent wearing a face-covering.
• Individuals engaging in work where they are alone in an indoor establishment or facility, individuals for whom wearing a face-covering would create a risk to the individual related to their work as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
• Individuals seated at a restaurant or other food/beverage establishment while they are eating or drinking.
• The complete Order and a full list of exemptions can be found at Here.

Violations of the Order are punishable as infractions; however, the purpose of the Order is to protect individuals’ health and not to hold them criminally liable.

On Jan. 4, Summit County experienced a record increase in the numbers of COVID-19 cases (216) that surpassed previous case counts during any part of the pandemic.

The order notes that 52% of Summit County residents ages 5-11 remain unvaccinated. “Residents who have not been vaccinated are at 5 times greater risk of hospitalizations from COVID-19 complications compared to those who are vaccinated,” the order states. 85% of all eligible residents in Summit County are fully vaccinated.

The Utah Department of Health reported 8,913 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, setting a new daily case record for the second day in a row. Deputy Director of the Utah Department of Health Dr. Michelle Hofmann said CDC models project the state reported roughly 12,600 cases each day come the end of January.

In a video on Tuesday, Gov. Spencer Cox pleaded with Utahns to get vaccinated and boosted.