Governor Gary Herbert accused of receiving unmasked guests at an outdoor party

Nicholas Rupp and her husband were in the middle of their walk through the Avenidas neighborhood of Salt Lake City on Wednesday night when they realized that they were having an evening on the lawn of the Utah governor’s mansion.

Music floated in his direction from behind the fence, and Rupp noticed a harp sitting outside the majestic residence. Illuminated by string lights, food services balance food trays and clean dirty dishes.

The approximately 20 guests strolling the lawn of the mansion were well dressed, he says. Only some lacked the characteristic accessory of the coronavirus era: a mask.

“I was surprised to see that,” said Rupp, who works at the Salt Lake County Health Department, “because I know the governor has been very supportive of covering my face.”

Rupp estimated that only half of the partygoers wore the masks, intended to curb the spread of COVID-19. Some people had apparently removed their covers from their faces to eat, he said, but others without masks crowded into groups and chatted.

Dismayed, Rupp’s husband took a cell phone photo. Later Wednesday night, Rupp tweeted it.

“Party outside tonight at the governor’s mansion in the center of #SLC, which is still at the ‘orange’ risk level,” Rupp underlines the photo. “Probably about half of the attendees visible with a face covered. Way to walk, @GovHerbert “.

The photo he posted on Twitter was taken from a distance, and it’s hard to tell from the photo if any of the partygoers had discovered faces. Several people clearly wear masks.

Another photo shared by Rupp’s husband shows at least one person who was not wearing a mask to his face and another person whose mask was removed. Both appear to be standing near other guests.

In a prepared statement, Governor Gary Herbert’s office said masks were required at the “small private event” that was held to honor various area artists. The meeting met all state and county health guidelines, according to the office.

“The guest list was small and all attendees kept a physical distance from each other,” the statement continued. “Governor Herbert continues to encourage people to exercise caution when meeting in groups. When Utahns choose to meet, he recommends that they do so outdoors, where they can practice physical distance, and that all attendees wear masks that they can wear when be close to others. “

At a separate press conference on Wednesday, Herbert did not say whether he intends to order masks statewide, stating that he would prefer people to voluntarily cover their faces in public.

“I hope people just do it, as I have said many times before,” he told reporters. “Just do it without having to be forced to because it is the right thing to do to protect your own health and that of those around you.”

Nicholas Rupp’s husband Michael Rupp said the presence of unmasked partiers on Herbert’s lawn conflicts with the governor’s public statements.

“The governor had just spoken that day about the importance of wearing masks, so it makes sense why this is something the media has learned,” he said. “I’m certainly not satisfied with that kind of behavior, that mixed message.”

Nicholas Rupp said he hasn’t heard from the governor’s office since he posted the photo on social media. He said he was making a point as a private citizen during his personal time and not as a spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Health Department.

His Twitter account is personal, he added, and has blocked his profile since Wednesday night.