Moment a Utah meeting about face masks is abruptly cancelled when residents without coverings pack the room

This is the moment a public meeting about face masks in Utah was abruptly cancelled when residents without face coverings packed the room.

The meeting was being held in the city of Provo to discuss a new policy that school children must wear face masks as schools reopen.

The state governor Gary Herbert announced last week that pupils or anyone who worked in schools which run from Kindergarten to Year 12 must wear face coverings.

The Provo commission meeting had been called to consider a letter asking the state to allow exemptions to the mandate for students.

The meeting was swiftly adjourned
Utah County Government via YouTube

But Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge was quick to adjourn the meeting when the hall flooded with people who were not social distancing or wearing masks themselves.

He said: "This is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. We’re supposed to be physically distancing, wearing masks."

Speaking over loud objections from the audience, Mr Ainge continued: "This gathering violates current health recommendations."

His announcement was met with boos from the audiences, which consisted of around 100 people.

Mr Ainge later claimed on Twitter that the room was packed with anti-mask protesters.

One attendee, who told the Salt Lake Tribune that she has five grandchildren, said: “We are perpetuating a lie. Covid is a hoax. It’s a lie. It’s a political stunt."

A mother falsely claimed that masks cut down on a person’s oxygen, and a father said Covid-19 is no different than the flu, according to the publication.

Another parent of two children, ages 10 and 3, said she is concerned that wearing a mask would teach her older child to fear the world.

“It’s going to rewire their brains,” the mother said. “I’m especially not going to send my son back to have his mind broken.”

It comes as the outbreak in Utah continues to spread with more than 30,000 reported cases and 230 deaths.

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