Masks still on Gov’s mind, likely not in mandate

Gov. Brad Little said, while he is a huge advocate for Idahoans to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, he is reluctant to go as far as to issue an order requiring people to wear the protective gear in public.

“As you probably know,” Little said in a Wednesday conference call, “we’re not big on government mandates in Idaho, particularly for people it’s probably not necessary for, which means in areas where there isn’t community spread.”

The dialogue surrounding a hypothetical mask order has hit new highs in statewide conversation after our neighbor to the west — Washington state — saw its governor announce Tuesday that its residents were now required to wear masks in public. Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandate drew criticism from many from within Washington, Idaho and across the country who said the order represents government overreach.

“We’re huge advocates of (wearing masks),” Little said. “Our whole team, the health care team, the health care industry. It’s the right thing to do. But part of the issue is: What do I do in the nine (Idaho) counties that don’t have one confirmed case? At some point in time, universal mask wearing is the right thing for people to do. But if you’ve been home for six weeks, and you go out the first time? The issue is to protect other people, and you have zero risk if you’re not around anyone.”

Little’s comments come one day before today’s press conference where he is expected to address Idaho’s alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. Since the first-term governor implemented a four-stage re-opening May 1, the state’s infection rate slowly grew before skyrocketing the past 10 days.

Little ordered Ada County to revert back to earlier Stage Three health restrictions prohibiting large crowds.

But Little said positive reinforcement was the way to sway Idahoans, rather than by mandate.

“My personal philosophical reason is,” he said, “it is much better to educate, inform, cajole, do all you can for people for good behavior, and that’s kind of the way we see things working.”