Summit County issues public health order requiring indoor masks
Jan 6, 2022, 2:38 PM | Updated: 3:42 pm
FILE: (Summit County Health Department)
(Summit County Health Department)
COALVILLE, Utah — In response to Utah’s record numbers of COVID-19 cases in the past two days, Summit County will implement a mask order.
Beginning Friday (Jan. 7, 2022) if a person visits a public indoor facility or is waiting in a line at a public, indoor facility, they must wear a face covering or mask. The order affects anybody in the county, regardless of vaccination status.
“This was not an easy decision and certainly not an action we wanted to take at this stage of the pandemic,” said Summit County Health Officer Dr. Phil Bondurant.
“I am especially concerned for our frontline workers, our children, 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,” he said.
The order is effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and will remain in effect through 5 p.m. on Feb. 21.
Exemptions to Summit County mask order
There are several exemptions to the Summit County mask order. They include people:
- under age 2,
- with a medical condition, impairment or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;
- engaging in work where they are alone in an indoor establishment or facility;
- for whom wearing a face-covering would create a risk to that person;
- and anyone seated at a restaurant or other food/beverage establishment while they eat or drink.
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Summit County mask order protects critical services, manager says
Utah health officials reported 8,913 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 7,247 new cases on Wednesday. As they issued the public health order, Summit County officials cited concern about the omicron surge.
“Along with the health of our residents, workers and visitors, preserving and maintaining critical infrastructure services in our county is of the highest priority,” County Manager Tom Fisher said.
“As it stands, the omicron surge poses a significant threat to our ability to provide critical services, such as emergency response, snow removal, solid waste collection, medical services and others.
“This health order helps protect those frontline workers and the important services they provide this community.”
