The April 7 Salt Lake Tribune had an excellent article by Taylor Stevens regarding Utah County not issuing a stay-at-home order.
The article cites County Commissioner Nathan Ivie’s feeling that there needs to be a balance between protecting public health and civil liberties, and that Gov. Gary Herbert’s more lenient directive is sufficient. The article goes on to quote Ivie as saying that Utah County currently has enough beds and ventilators to treat infected patients.
This is the most egregious lack of leadership and irresponsible policy imaginable. Examining successful policies around the country and the world have demonstrably shown that a stay-at-home order is what is needed.
Is Utah County saying, we currently have the beds and the resources, so continue to ignore the science and, if you get the virus and/or cause someone else to get the virus, we will treat you while ignoring the potential life-threatening possibility?
In the face of the lack of leadership at the national or state level, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall have issued the appropriate orders.
Republicans, look no further at the embarrassing about-face in recent days from Florida and Georgia when faced with the reality that it is only the issuance of these orders statewide that will begin to contain this virus.
Another recent article by Scott Pierce shows why making the argument that there is a civil liberties issue at stake here is ridiculous. Wilson issued a stay-at-home order for Salt Lake County and to date not a single citation or arrest has occurred. The order is simply used to set the tone and then remind violators of the importance of following the order.
At the end of the day, we are one state and need to have a statewide order entered immediately.
David Bennett, Park City
