30-day mask mandate applies to students. FILE: Anastazia Dall works in her first grade class at Nibley Park School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Kids in the Salt Lake School District will be wearing masks to school through at least the end of the calendar year. The city council voted last night to extend an emergency health order until December 20th.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall can only issue an emergency order for 30 days. But according to council lawyers, the council can extend it longer, and they did, until just after school gets out for winter break.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall presented data to the council at Tuesday’s meeting saying over the last 40 days the district has had under 864 Covid cases.
“Which is pretty dramatically lower than other school districts particularly when you look at our student populations,” she said.
She told the council 62% of eligible kids in the district are vaccinated. Council members then discussed whether to extend it longer than 30 days.
“I would advocate for giving teachers and parents as much leeway to plan as possible,” said council member Darin Mano.
The council said they would vote at their December 14th meeting whether to extend it longer than the current ending date of December 20th.
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:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization