SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall calls on businesses to apply masks even after state office ends

Intermountain Healthcare says it will need masks after the state mandate ends on April 10.

The state-run mask will end on April 10, but Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is urging local businesses to keep applying masks until public health officials say it’s safe to leave without them.

Mendenhall was joined on Friday by local business owners at a press conference on masks. Located in the mid-March sun outside Santo Taco, Mendenhall said spring is always a hopeful time, but it is more hopeful now as the state sees the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. She said she was grateful to Governor Spencer Cox for opening vaccinations for all over the age of 16 beginning March 24.

Although the number of COVIDs in Utah is improving as more and more people are vaccinated, the mayor said the community must continue to be cautious. In addition to protecting lives, she said masks help customers feel safe by owning a business in Salt Lake City.

“The masks were good for business and I don’t want to see progress being ruined before we make it to the end,” she said.

Mendenhall said the end of April 10 of the mask mandate is not a date selected with health-based reasoning. She said Salt Lake City is looking for directions for how long people should wear masks from health authorities, such as state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn.

Mendenhall said the city’s lawyers are assessing whether the city can legally implement its own mask mandate. The option is “on the table”, but said the city should first analyze health data before making such a decision.

Business owners at the press conference said they want to wear mask clothing while trying to vaccinate front-line workers.

Missy Greis, owner of Publik Coffee, said the masks work. She said Publik was completely masked and only received pick-up services. Five of the 64 employees of the four units had COVID and none hired him or sent him to work.

“Wear your masks a little longer, it works,” she said.

She said Cox knows that, but the Utah legislature doesn’t.

Mark Jensen of Harmons Grocery said he believes it will take another eight weeks to vaccinate all store associates. He said he doesn’t even like masks, but they’re a small price to pay to keep people safe and open.

Jensen urged employers to heed Cox’s advice and not be “crazy” when it comes to business. He asked people to remember that Harmons associates only do their job and deserve to be treated with respect.

Ricky Arriola, of Break Bread Barber Co., said that as a business owner, community member and father, he asks everyone to do their part in disguise until health professionals say it is safe to do so. otherwise. He said customers and staff at his barber shop would remain completely masked.

All Intermountain Healthcare facilities will still require masks.

It was necessary to cover his face at his facilities “long before any state mandate,” said Eddie Stenehjem, an Intermountain Healthcare physician for infectious diseases. “We did it because masks protect patients, protect caregivers and protect visitors. Simply. ”

And they will continue to mandate masks “out of an abundance of caution … because we feel it is our duty.”

Intermountain caregivers who work with patients or visitors will wear both procedure masks and eye protection. Employees who do not work with patients or visitors will continue to wear cloth masks. And the masks will continue to be mandated for both patients and visitors.

Intermountain will monitor the conditions “and we will withdraw this when we consider it safe for everyone involved,” Stenehjem said.

He also recommended that Utahns continue to wear masks even after the end of his state term.

“I can tell you that I will wear a mask on April 11 and move on,” Stenehjem said. “We know the masks work. I’ve seen a lot of clinical trials. We have seen a lot of observational studies that show the importance of a mask in reducing transmission. ”

He urged people to continue wearing masks “when you are around people and you can’t distance yourself socially.”

“Absolutely, just put it on. It’s the only thing that costs nothing. It does not affect the community economically. It allows things to stay open. ”

And it is necessary because, although the number of Utahs receiving vaccinations is growing, Stenehjem warned that “the level of virus in our community is still high.”

He also recommended that children continue to wear masks when playing with other children indoors. But that will change as the weather warms up and the children play outside.

“I would say that in the not-too-distant future, they can probably play without masks,” said Stenehjem, “because when you’re out, inter-community transmission is reduced.”

He expressed optimism that Utahns would wear masks even after the state’s term expired.

“I think masks have become a kind of social norm at this time,” Stenehjem said. “People are comfortable with that. When I leave, I take my phone, keys and mask. It’s normalized. … And so my recommendation would be to continue with a mask. ”