Governor approves mask mandate for Logan
Update (7/30/20 at 6:22 p.m. MDT):
Logan Mayor Holly Daines held a press conference this afternoon to discuss Logan City’s decision to implement a city-wide mask mandate.
The mandate will go into effect on August 1 at 12:01 a.m. The mandate will last for 30 days and will need council approval to be renewed.
“I have the support of four or five members of the city council, the Logan City School District and Utah State University,” Daines said. “The governor believes in local decision-making and I would like to thank him for that response.”
Daines added that she is aware case counts for Logan are reasonable, but the city is being proactive. This next month will be critical in ensuring K-12 and USU students can return to school safely, she said.
“Utah State University is an important part of our economy, and we are thrilled to have them back,” Daines said. “It is a time to be cautious. Masks are required on campus and it makes sense to have that be consistent throughout the community. “
Taylor Cripe Logan Mayor Holly Daines speaks at a press conference addressing the city’s upcoming mask mandate.
Face masks will be required indoors at all retail and public locations. They will be required outdoors when social distancing is not possible. Children under 5 will not be required to wear a mask.
Medical exceptions for masks will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Daines said they would be “reasonable in their expectations.” She acknowledged that people may have psychological reasons for refusing to wear a mask, such as claustrophobia, and that police officers would not be asking for a doctor’s note to prove any psychological or medical conditions.
Enforcement will be done through “education,” however a repeat offender or an individual being belligerent to police officers can face a class B misdemeanor. A class B misdemeanor in Utah is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. However, Daines said the city will strive to handle situations from an administrative position as opposed to a criminal one.
“So many people are already wearing masks and I really appreciate that,” Daines said. “This is maybe just a nudge to say, ‘If you are not doing it already, it’s time.’”
Daines also said the city would not consider going to a green phase at this time because having a mask mandate while going green seemed “counterintuitive.”
When asked why the city is just now deciding to issue the mandate, Daines said all the current research confirmed that a mandate was necessary.
“It doesn’t make sense to require people to wear masks in school, and then be able to come down to the local stores and businesses and take those masks off,” she said.
Daines added she understands there are strong feelings on both sides of this issue. However, research continues to show that masks are an essential tool in fighting COVID-19, she said. Additionally, she believes the majority of people in Logan have been supportive of a mask mandate.
“I want there to be in-person learning. I want there to be business open and our economy to continue going so we don’t have these shutdowns again.”
Even though the mandate is only for 30 days, Daines clarified that she will be asking the Logan City Council to extend it.
Initial article (7/30/20 at 10:53 a.m.)
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert approved a mask mandate for the city of Logan this morning.
The Utah Department of Health sent out a tweet confirming the governor’s decision:
.@GovHerbert has approved a request from @cityoflogan to require #masks be worn in the city to help prevent the spread of #COVID19. @BearRiverHealth @UtahCoronavirus
— Utah Dept. of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) July 30, 2020
The decision came just one week after Logan Mayor Holly Daines announced at a Logan Municipal Council Meeting that she would be requesting the mandate.
This is a developing story. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
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