Utah sees virus surge -- but not in county with mask order

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah is among the many U.S. states battling a surge in coronavirus cases, but officials said Wednesday the Salt Lake City area is bucking the trend after the county issued a mandate a month ago for people to wear masks.

There's no statewide mask order in Republican-led Utah, and face coverings remain contentious, as seen at a recent public meeting that was abruptly ended when dozens of people without masks packed the room.

After GOP Gov. Gary Herbert allowed Democratic leaders in Salt Lake County to impose their own mask rule, the county's share of cases in the state steadily declined despite its denser population.

“Today we’re sharing data that indicates that face coverings and other interventions implemented by Salt Lake County are having a positive impact,” county Mayor Jenny Wilson said. “These actions are saving lives, protecting health and stabilizing the spread of COVID-19 cases.”

Based on data in Salt Lake County, Wilson called on the governor to order a statewide mask requirement.

The number of new cases reported daily in Salt Lake County is nearly down to levels seen in June. However, case numbers in the state as a whole have doubled in the same time frame.

The county used to consistently report 60% of the state’s cases, but now typically sees about 40% of those cases, Wilson said. A third of the state’s 3.2 million residents live in Salt Lake County.

Health experts say masks can prevent the spread of the disease by catching virus-containing respiratory droplets expelled when people exhale or cough. Face coverings are promoted as a key tool in allowing the resumption of economic activity and students’ return to schools.

Critics, however, argue that mask mandates overstep government power.

More than half of U.S. states...