Gov. Herbert on TV right now:

In our war against COVID-19, we need our doctors and our nurses.

And now, they need us. They are pleading for our help.

Tonight I am declaring a new State of Emergency to address hospital overcrowding and to protect Intensive Care Unit capacity.

Because scientists and medical experts overwhelmingly recommend masks as an effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19, I am placing the entire state of Utah under a mask mandate until further notice.

Businesses must require employees to wear masks, and to promote mask wearing to their patrons, and to visibly post signage to that effect. Those who fail to do so will be subject to fines from the Labor Commission.

Masks do not negatively affect our economy and wearing them is the easiest way to slow the spread of the virus. Experts tell us masks do not cause a shortage of oxygen to your brain or cause disease.

Utahns may not participate in or host casual social gatherings with individuals other than those in their immediate household for the next two weeks, which is the incubation period of COVID-19.

Furthermore, it should be known that we will not tolerate organizers of public gatherings that do not exercise the required precautions of social distancing and mask-wearing.

State and local authorities will prosecute and hold accountable those who sponsor and organize such events and gatherings. Organizers will be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per occurrence.

We are postponing for the next two weeks all sports and after-school activities with the exception of high school playoff and championship games and also intercollegiate sports.

This suspension includes club sports, city-sponsored sports, and intramural sports, as well as other club activities.

This is a two-week postponement that will enable us to immediately prioritize testing of student athletes involved in playoff and championship games and put in place a robust process of testing student athletes involved in other winter sports and activities.

Testing of intercollegiate athletes is already occurring under the direction of their respective conferences.

Furthermore, students should not gather in social groups outside of regular school hours during the next two-weeks, and must be very careful thereafter.

Our data shows that individuals aged 15-24 have not been careful in their casual social gatherings and that the highest rates of spread are now occurring among this age group.

Fourth: During this 2-week period, our public health teams will significantly expand our testing operations.

During this two week period and beyond, we will test more people who have symptoms, and we will also launch a targeted testing program for those who don’t have symptoms.

What I have shared with you this evening is NOT a shutdown of our society or our economy. We are not closing any businesses.

Our health experts, in fact, agree that a full economic shutdown is not necessary nor warranted to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The wearing of masks, and exercising every precaution when it comes to gathering with others, including social distancing, is crucial.

Utah is OPEN for business.

You can still shop, dine in or carry out, exercise, worship, and recreate, and many other things — we are just saying, stay within your household group whenever possible, particularly for the next two weeks.

Also, there is more that you can do. For example, get your flu shot.

Our hospitals have now started treating the first influenza cases of the season, and by getting a flu shot, you can save critical hospital space others.

Simple actions can make a critical difference.

So let’s find ways, through technology and other means, to help each other through this difficult time.

If your needs are immediate and critical, please call 211.

There is no legislation or executive order that can mandate civility, respect and basic consideration for others.

This is about so much more than just mandates. This is about personal responsibility.

I have seen you do remarkable things in my eleven and a half years as governor.

I have seen our state face extraordinary challenges and overcome great adversity.

In the past when we have had natural disasters, we have all come together to give assistance to our neighbors, sacrificing whatever we can to help them out.

This crisis is no different.

It is time for the divisiveness to end, and for all of us as Utahns to unite in making whatever sacrifices are necessary to help our neighbor, and to bring healing back to our state.

Thank you and goodnight.