Some Protest, Others Praise Governor’s COVID-19 Order
Nov 9, 2020, 11:35 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Gov. Gary Herbert’s executive order went into effect Monday, sparking swift reaction from supporters who don’t think the mandate goes far enough and protesters who said the state has gone too far.
“We cannot afford to debate this issue any longer,” Herbert said during an emergency announcement Sunday night.
But by Monday, a few dozen protesters had taken the debate to the governor’s mansion.
“It just was another validation of how he’s overstepping his bounds,” said Mike Brown.
One man I spoke to said the governor is “overstepping his bounds” with the mask mandate. Also says the order’s limit on gatherings violates 1st amendment right to “peaceably assemble” #KSLTV #utpol pic.twitter.com/iJKguGwmKM
— Matt Rascon KSL (@MattRasconKSL) November 10, 2020
The scene outside the mansion was the opposite of the measures laid out in the governor’s new executive order, namely, a statewide mask mandate and limiting gatherings to those in the same household.
“The first amendment says we have the right to peaceably assemble and the governor cannot override that,” Brown said. “We know that the governor doesn’t have that authority. He actually works for us. And he has to abide by the U.S. Constitution as well.”
But the mandate and accompanying order was welcome news to many other Utahns.
“We always wear masks everywhere we go,” Pablo Sandi said. “But I would have made that decision perhaps three or four months ago.”
Others, like representatives with the Utah Education Association, said the order does not go far enough.
For months, Herbert resisted calls for a statewide mask mandate, leaving it up to city and counties instead. But on Monday, he pointed to overcrowding hospitals as the reason for the order. And state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn threw her support behind it.
“I really believe if every Utahn adheres to the principles outlined by Governor Herbert we will start to see a decrease in our cases and we need that urgently,” Dunn said during Monday’s press conference. “This will be the start of us being able to save our health care system.”
Herbert said the labor department will be able to fine businesses that don’t comply, and local health and police departments are authorized under state statute to enforce a public health order.
“It clearly is not stopping the cases from rising,” Brown said, pointing to cities and counties that already have mask mandates. “They’re still rising. So, it’s really unnecessary. People are already complying.”
Herbert addressed those who believe his order goes too far.
“Individual freedom is certainly important, and it is our rule of law that protects that freedom,” he said. “Laws are put in place to protect all of us. That’s why we have traffic lights and speed limits and seatbelts. And that’s why we now have a mask mandate.”
The measure is meant to slow the spread of the virus, but so far has offered no slowing to the debate surrounding the government’s response.