Salt Lake County mayor extends mask requirement for county operations

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has mandated that masks will continue to be required in all county-run buildings for the foreseeable future. This includes venues, libraries, recreation and art centers, along with a number of other facilities.

“It’s important that I protect my staff and teams and it’s also important that our patrons come — children included — safely,” Wilson said in a statement extending the mask-wearing requirement beyond the April 10 termination passed by the Utah Legislature and signed by Gov. Spencer Cox.

The policy applies only to county facilities since Wilson does not have the power to decide if the county’s mask mandate will be extended to businesses and the general public.

“Businesses like Harmons, Costco and others are already saying, ‘Yes indeed, masks will be required here for the foreseeable future.’ And that’s very good news,” Wilson said. “I’m asking that large and small businesses follow that lead and that they require customers to wear masks. I think legislators who were against a mandate, I hope they step up and back up the science and at least share with people — as I am — that it makes perfect sense to continue. I would hope the governor does the same.”