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Iron County letter takes aim at governor's new health orders

Posted at 10:26 PM, Oct 16, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-17 00:36:44-04

PAROWAN, Utah — A letter signed by all three of Iron County's commissioners is debating the state's new COVID-19 health guidelines, which now place their county in a "Moderate" range.

County Supervisor Paul Cozzens posted the letter on his Facebook page Thursday evening. Click here to read the letter. [PDF]

The guidelines constitute “…a dangerous overreach and pose a greater risk to our residents than other less-restrictive measures," the letter states. “We cannot in good conscience continue to hold our livelihoods hostage with guaranteed negative effects for fear of exceeding arbitrary transmission standards…”

The letter also calls out several areas, including the state's data on 7-day average percent positivity, 14-day case rate per 100K, statewide ICU rates, and mask mandates.

Officials with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, which oversees public health for Iron County, told FOX 13 they weren’t aware of the letter and declined to comment until they were able to read it over.

Governor Herbert's Office did not immediately return a request for comment.