A public meeting about masks in Utah was derailed after tons of residents showed up not wearing masks

• The Utah County, Utah Commission gathered on Wednesday to hear concerns from parents over Gov. Gary Herbert's decision to require masks in all K-12 schools in the fall.
• But parents not wearing masks or social distancing derailed the meeting, which was quickly adjourned by the commission's chair, Tanner Ainge.
• Two board members remained in the room to hear from parents, who called COVID-19 a "hoax," downplayed the seriousness of the virus, and said they feared masks could "rewire" kids' brains, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

A public meeting in Utah about face masks in schools was derailed on Wednesday night when dozens of county residents not wearing masks filled up the room.

At the Utah County Commission's Wednesday meeting, guests packed in, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, with very few people wearing masks.

"This is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing," Tanner Ainge, the commission's chair said as he saw the crowd. "We are supposed to be physically distancing, wearing masks. This room is not complying with those health guidelines."

Ainge was met with boos from the crowd as he adjourned the meeting less than 10 minutes after it began. The county posted a video of the brief meeting on YouTube.

The meeting was held to hear concerns from parents over Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's decision to require masks in all K-12 schools in the fall, according to KSL. The order requires all students, staff, and visitors to wear masks at all times while on school property or on school buses.

Ainge walked out of the meeting after it was adjourned, but two board members remained in the room to hear from parents.

Parents called COVID-19 a "hoax," downplayed the seriousness of the virus, and said they feared masks could "rewire" kids' brains, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

"I'm especially not going to send my son back to have his mind broken," one mother said.

Utah has experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks and now has at least 31,228 confirmed cases. It currently does not have a state-wide mask mandate. There's no evidence that masks cause brain damage.

In a statement about the mask mandate in schools issued on Tuesday, before the meeting, Ainge voiced support for having masks in school.

"For those who have serious health concerns or desire to stay home, keep their business closed, and home-school their children — they have that right," Ainge said. "For the rest of us who want to keep our economy moving, our people employed and our kids in the classroom — the ask at the moment is that we wear a mask, wash our hands, and physically distance when possible."