Salt Lake County health official to issue mask mandate for schoolchildren under 12 — will council agree?

Dr. Angela Dunn, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, left, listens as Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson discusses schoolchildren and masks at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. Salt Lake County schoolchildren under the age of 12 would be required to wear masks at school under an “order of restraint” to be issued by Dunn. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Salt Lake County children under the age of 12 will be required to wear masks at school under an “order of restraint” to be issued by Dr. Angela Dunn, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department.

The order can remain in place for 30 days unless it is overturned by the Salt Lake County Council, according to state law passed in March.

The action comes as many school districts prepare to open, with Murray District seventh graders returning on Friday and students in the Canyons and Jordan districts and the remainder of Murray students starting next week. Salt Lake and Granite districts resume the following week.

Dunn said she viewed the order “as the best way forward for Salt Lake County” and the best means to keep children safe during in-person learning. The order would require masking indoors.

“I’m focused on those who are ineligible for vaccination and have no other way to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19,” Dunn said. Federal regulators have not yet authorized the use of a coronavirus vaccine in children under the age of 12.

Dunn was joined by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson as she made the announcement in the county health department offices Tuesday afternoon.

“I will not terminate this request, which means it will be in the hands of the County Council,” Wilson said. A council meeting could be conducted later this week.

Under state law, a local health department must provide 24 hours notice to their county elected officials before declaring a public health emergency or issuing an order of constraint. Wilson said she received Dunn’s notification shortly after noon on Tuesday.

Elected county officials may overturn an order at any time. There is a 30-day maximum limit on an initial order of constraint. Elected officials must be provided 10 days’ notice if the health department requests an extension.

Even before the announcement, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall urged the Salt Lake County Council to support Dunn if she announced a mask mandate.

“I respectfully request that if Dr. Dunn determines masks are necessary in K-12 schools, you support her recommendation knowing that it comes from an extensive evaluation of scientific data and is the best strategy to protect our children who are so vulnerable at this time,” Mendenhall wrote.

But a number of Salt Lake County Council members have indicated they would likely not support such an order.

This story will be updated.

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