Skip to main content
Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Utah governor says wear masks or keep school kids home

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during a briefing about the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the Utah State Capitol, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during a briefing about the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the Utah State Capitol, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says parents who don’t want to follow his health mandate by requiring their children to wear masks when returning to school should keep them home.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Republican says students without face coverings should not return to classrooms and should instead take part in online school or homeschooling during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The comments follow confirmation by Herbert’s office on Wednesday that K-12 students and staff who refuse to wear masks without a legitimate medical exemption can be charged with a misdemeanor under his mandate.