@tvheidihatch @MikeHeadrickTV @BenWinslow @RobertGehrke @KUTV2News @Deseret @KSLcom @kslnewsradio @RodArquette pic.twitter.com/tqErJ9FQLP. Gary Herbert has issued an emergency declaration making the wearing of face coverings mandatory and restricting indoor social gatherings to 10 or less in Washington, Iron and Garfield counties. School officials say their goal is to keep the schools open, and if masks provide a reasonable level ofsafety, public health, and generalwelfare, theyre a small price to pay for teachers, some at high risk, to educate students. I have eaten in restaurants where the employees were still wearing masks, seemed overkill to me. The majority of shoppers who went to the Walmart Supercenter in South Logan on Monday the day the rule went into effect wore masks in compliance with the mandate. The Utah Department of Health, however, reports that unvaccinated Utahns have been 2.4 times as likely to contract the virus during the omicron wave as vaccinated people have been. Please honor mask requirements posted by businesses. Despite Fauci casting doubt on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, Pritzker If we dont do anything, Utah will continue to be one of the top hot spots in the world, and we dont want that. ST. GEORGE With the statewide mask mandate set to lift Saturday, local school districts are reminding students and staff that the requirement for face coverings will remain in effect until June 15. In an interview with FOX 13 on Friday, Rep. Pierucci hoped the legislature wouldn't have to revisit future emergency health orders. Zion continues mask protocols, limited services amid - St George News Why China Is Not a Superpower - Nwo Report Throughout the pandemic, Washington County has been, by far, the prime source of infections. We recognize some parents arent happy with the mandate.. ST. GEORGE After ending a June that was by far the worst month of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Utah, July has begun with a drop in hospitalizations among locals and, for the moment, what might be a brief reprieve from the cusp of capacity at Dixie Regional Medical Center. Some people want to make it a political issue, Rich Saunders, interim director of the Utah Department of Health, said. The protest, which drew hundreds to the. Iron County has averaged between 35 and 45 new infections per day this week, while Washington County has stayed in the teens. Im tired of social distancing. Most national chains like Walmart, Target and Kroger, the parent company of Smiths, have said they are going by federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which continue to advocate for face coverings when physical distancing is not possible. Voluntary. St. George Regional Hospital/Intermountain Healthcare: Where: 400 East Campus St. George Regional Hospital, 544 S. 400 East, St. George. Walmart, Target and Costco are among the larger stores to begin making facial coverings. Masks, quarantine, testing: Washington County school officials discuss COVID-19 Man who refused to wear mask on flight departing from Utah fined $10,500. However, as the situation and science surrounding the coronavirus continues to evolve, its possible that some data has changed. And we, as a representative body and elected body, have the responsibility to represent the citizens of the state in a responsible way," said Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Agendas and Minutes Masks are now required in Salt Lake City facilities following an executive order from Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Utah is now facing its most dire episode yet in this epidemic, and frankly, it doesnt matter how tired we are. Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said it allowed schools to more easily pivot to remote learning. Mask mandate? - St. George Forum - Tripadvisor The House of Representatives voted 45-29 in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 3, overturning the public health orders issued by local health departments in an effort to combat the surge in COVID-19 cases brought on by the omicron variant. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. FILE - In this July 7, 2020 file photo, Utah Republican Lt. Gov Spencer Cox arrives for a press conference at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Pine View High School senior Camron Bingham said that was a risk he was willing to take when he showed up to school without a mask. Its time for them to be able to open their chapter houses to conduct local business and to receive services they are asking for and deserve.. Chris Reed serves as an editor and reporter for St. George News, where has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. This is something I talked about to my team a month and a half ago, Cox said. Steven Dunham, the district's director of communications, confirmed with ABC4 News that several of their [] It could be on its own curve., Where: St. George Active Life Center, 245 N. 200 West, St George. St. George Regional Hospital/Intermountain Healthcare: Where: 400 East Campus St. George Regional Hospital, 544 S. 400 East, St. George. Trending: The Chain Reaction Has Begun - Humanity Is Winning! Spencer Cox reaffirmed [] "Have you lost a family member to COVID? Where:Southwest Utah Public Health Department Beaver Office, 75 1175 North, Beaver. Face masks do notreduce oxygen intake, according to multiple health authorities, nor do they result in carbon dioxide poisoning, hypoxemia, or hypoxia. "Forcing masks on our children is child abuse," the man, identified as Eric Moutsos, later said at the protest, The Spectrum reported. With 14 new infections Friday, Cedar City saw the second-largest increase in the state for a city with less than 100,000 population. Beaver and Kane counties will be in the low level. Dr. Angela Dunn, the executive director of Salt Lake County's health department, urged residents to mask up regardless of any mandates. I will be by their side and respect their choices to not wear masks, Nay said. For those who are vaccinated, the time to return to normal has come. August 14, 2021. Utah's mask mandate has ended, but what has actually changed? However, as the situation and science surrounding the coronavirus continues to evolve, its possible that some data has changed. Although about 35,000 students attend public schools in the county, administrators say only six of their students refused to wear a mask and went home with their parents. Last Friday, the Washington County School Districts board told its teachers and staff that it would, no longer be enforcing the school mask mandate, that had still been in effect even after the states overall mask mandate ended. Chris Reed serves as an editor and reporter for St. George News, where has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. David Heaton, spokesperson for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, said the local health department is opting to just follow guidelines from the state at this point. Many of the reactions to the report criticized the demonstrators, calling them "entitled" and"proudly hostile," while others likened it to "a straightparody"fit for a"Saturday Night Live" sketch. ST. GEORGE A few days after the Washington County School District unilaterally decided to no longer enforce the state's mask mandate for schools, Gov. Republican Salt Lake County Council Chair Laurie Stringham criticized the legislature's vote to terminate local health orders. Under the law, a local health department can issue an order requiring masks. Haley says the state's recommendation is "for businesses and residents to continue wearing masks even . This effectively makes masks required in all restaurants that have 10 or more people inside. A weeks-old anti-mask protest in Utah has become the source of online backlash after a TV news report detailing the rally went viral on social media. Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. Individuals are encouraged to make educated personal healthcare decisions, to continue to slow the spread of the COVID virus, it is further resolved, that Washington County will not support nor impose any economic lockdowns or mask mandates, says Almquist. | Photo by JJ Gouin, iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News, Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, : 4,682 (56.1 new infections per day in seven days, rising), Washington County: 3,676 (46.7 per day, rising), Garfield County: 59 (3.1 per day, rising), Washington County: 38 (4 new since last report: female hospitalized between 65-84, female hospitalized between 65-84, male long-term facility resident between 65-84, male long-term facility resident between 65-84), Garfield County: 3 (1 new, female hospitalized between 45-65), : Garfield (18.1% positive tests, 472.4 per 100,000 case rate), : Washington (12.6% positive tests, 327.9 per 100,000 case rate), Iron (8.3% positive tests, 153.5 per 100,000 case rate), : Beaver (7.1% positive tests, 197.6 per 100,000 case rate), Kane (6.5% positive tests, 90.8 per 100,000 case rate). That is no longer the case, as this week Iron County surged ahead of Washington County as far as new daily infections of COVID-19. "Its such a message to send to our schools this early in the session about what extent we are going to take to help us ride out this pandemic, especially in this surge," Heidi Matthews, the UEA's president, said in an interview with FOX 13. site allows people to look specifically for sites within 25 miles with the Pfizer or other specific vaccines in stock. Categories. Theyve really suffered through the pandemic.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Washington County schools stand firm on mask mandate while other Southern Utah d Iron County school board to address late-start schedule, mask exemptions, other Virus doesnt exist much in Washington County: Governor opti Statewide mask mandate ending, but in most places masks will still be required, Mask mandate will remain in force for Southern Utah public schools. Local commissioners declare mask mandate over in Kane County; state ST. GEORGE Gov. for those who have been fully vaccinated that said if someone has been fully inoculated against the virus, the time has come where they can truly just about throw away the mask and go back to the way things were before the pandemic began. are met. "Effectively protecting our most vulnerable community membersand ensuring that our businesses and essential services have the staff necessary to operaterequires layering our various prevention tools; this includes being up to date on vaccine, staying home when ill, and wearing a respirator mask in public during this surge. Masks will still be required. Thats something that Steve Dunham, spokesperson for the Washington County Unified School District, confirmed to St. George News. Where: Revere Health Campus, 2825 E. Mall Drive, St. George. Spencer Cox announced that Utah is lifting that mandate for the rest of the states school districts for the last week of their school years. Gov. New study provides answers, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? and 2928 E. Mall Drive in St. George, 1120 State St. in Hurricane and 150 N Main St. in Cedar City. Rep. Pierucci argued the mandates were simply not effective in getting people to mask. The CDC released new guidance for those who have been fully vaccinated that said if someone has been fully inoculated against the virus, the time has come where they can truly just about throw away the mask and go back to the way things were before the pandemic began. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. Time to mask up? Mask mandates returning in Utah | ABC4 Utah 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. "Voting to remove this mandate does not remove an individuals ability to wear a mask. On Saturday, the statewide mask mandate requiring Utah residents to wear masks or face coverings when physical distancing is not possible comes to an end. Sarah Pettit, a spokesperson with Associated Foods the parent company of Lins told St. George News there is another driving force behind why some stores in Utah that dont have a national presence are still continuing to mandate masks: A stipulation in the new law that masks must still be work in environments where there might be 50 people or more. | Photo by Drazen Zigic, iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News, Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. St George Art Festival; Historic St. George LIVE! The resolution states lockdowns have been shown to have negative impacts on economies and individuals mental health.. The Navajo Nation has rescinded a mask mandate that has been in effect since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, fulfilling a pledge that new tribal President Buu Nygren made while campaigning for the office | Photo by Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press, St. George News, Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved, I will not hesitate: Buu Nygren sworn in as next Navajo Nation president, Navajo Nation prioritizes $1 billion in COVID aid; major improvements planned, Tribes play vital role in Arizonas rural COVID-19 vaccine rates outpacing more populated counties, Paid summer internships available across Utah's public lands, Gabby Petito's family files amended lawsuit against Moab police, 3 agencies combine to help rapeller who fell in mountains above Snow Canyon. Beyond the health district, the best bets locally for the Pfizer vaccine are Walgreens locations, the Albertsons on Dixie Drive in St. George and the CVS Pharmacy in the St. George River Road Target. On Saturday, the statewide mask mandate requiring Utah residents to wear masks or face coverings when physical distancing is not possible comes to an end. Spencer Cox announced that Utah is. The move comes as the COVID-19 vaccine has become available for children ages 12 and up. However, spokespeople for the state's department of health and Gov. Proof of residency may be required, though a person does not have to reside in the county they are receiving the vaccine. It does not have any presence online beyond a Facebook group that started in July. Initially, Garfield County is the one local county being placed in the high category, while Washington and Iron counties are considered at the moderate level. Where: 1189 E. 700 Southin St. George and 3520 Pioneer Parkway in Santa Clara. The Spectrum, part of the USA TODAY Network, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Education. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Senate President J. Stuart Adams signed the resolution in front of FOX 13 on Friday, ending the mandates immediately. General Average and Risk Management in Medieval and Early Modern They can choose to comply with the K-12 mask mandate or they can choose to go home with their parents. In early August, after Salt Lake County Health Department executive director Dr. Angela Dunn proposed requiring masks for school children under the age of 12, county officials overturned it on a 6-3 vote. Check the resources below for up-to-date information and resources. After discussing the need to help with schools, first responders, health care and businesses with the Speaker yesterday, it was disappointing to see the State interfere with local decisions dedicated to the well-being of Salt Lake County residents, without any other solutions offered," she said in a statement to FOX 13.