Nearly 100 percent of students in Salt Lake City school districts have been wearing masks in class according to school officials. In August, Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a mask mandate for students in grades K through 12 and principals were advised on how to enforce the mandate while respecting the dignity and autonomy of students. Anyone not wearing a mask has been offered one and advised of the benefits of wearing a mask. Students have not been prohibited from accessing in-person learning or activities if they declined to wear a mask. As of today (Wednesday), 58 students out of a total of over 21,000 in the district have tested positive for COVID-19.
Caroline Long is a science reporter at UPR. She is curious about the natural world and passionate about communicating her findings with others. As a PhD student in Biology at Utah State University, she spends most of her time in the lab or at the coyote facility, studying social behavior. In her free time, she enjoys making art, listening to music, and hiking.
