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Gov. Herbert renews State of Emergency due to increasing COVID-19 cases

Governor Gary Herbert face mask
Posted at 4:34 PM, Sep 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-19 18:34:04-04

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert issued an executive order Saturday to place Utah under a State of Emergency again as the previous order was set to expire the same day.

The governor's office cited recent increases in novel coronavirus cases — the state reported more than 1,000 cases on both Friday and Saturday — in renewing the order.

It will remain in effect until Oct. 20 unless extended by the State Legislature. It may also be rescinded before then if "the threat of danger has passed or reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist."

Click here to read the full order.

The order did not include a statewide mask mandate, although the governor has said the option remains "on the table."

Saturday's announcement added that "phased health guideline changes and mask mandates will be issued as public health orders under the Utah Department of Health."

The announcement from Herbert's office added that he "will only take certain executive actions, such as suspending statutes, if asked to do so by the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission." Click here to read his letter to House Speaker Brad Wilson and Senate President Stuart Adams.

The governor also issued orders to renew certain statute and rule suspensions, including (each full order is linked):