Kane County Commissioners say masks no longer required; state disagrees

Mar 22, 2021, 7:45 AM

FILE -- Painted wooden signs mark Main Street and Center Street in Alton, Kane County, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015. Ravell Call, Deseret News

BY MARY RICHARDS

Former Reporter

KANE COUNTY, Utah — The Kane County Commission released a statement Friday night saying face masks or coverings are no longer required in their area. But, State Health Officials say that’s not the case.

The County Commission said they respect the individual choice to wear them or not, but the state-wide, one-size-fits-all approach isn’t suitable.

Most comments on their Facebook post are supportive of the statement.

However, state officials reiterated the mask mandate still remains in effect for all of Utah for now, including Kane County.

“By public health order, a statewide mask requirement remains in effect for all counties, regardless of transmission levels,” Tom Hudachko, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health, told the St. George News.

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department also told the St George News that direction from the state government and health department supersedes any from the Kane County Commission.

The state legislature passed a bill that will end the statewide mask mandate on April 10th.

And public schools are under a different statewide order, meaning students and teachers must still wear masks for the rest of the school year.

Kane County is at the very southern end of the state, bordering Washington, Garfield and San Juan counties. It includes Lake Powell, and Kanab is its biggest city. The population was 7,125 in the 2010 US census.

They were the first to go to a green level in June after the pandemic began last March. That’s when the state used color-coding.

But in the most recent report from the state, Kane was in high transmission. Kane County’s Covid-19 task force pointed out that’s because there was an outbreak in the county jail that made the numbers spike, though most were asymptomatic or mild cases.

Utah counties consider implementing their own mask mandates after April 10
Utah schools send reminders face masks are still required this school year
SLC Mayor urges business owners to keep mask policies after the state mandate expires
Masks still required at Intermountain Hospitals after statewide mandate expires

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Wear a mask.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.
Get vaccinated.