Better late than never, mandate is a good call

There is a lot of criticism that can be laid to Gov. Mark Gordon’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest of which was his steadfast refusal to tighten statewide restrictions in the face of a huge spike in COVID-19 infections.

Last week, finally, he reversed course and issued a statewide mask and facial covering mandate.

In Sweetwater County, more than 2,400 residents have contracted COVID-19, with a large percentage of that number being as recent as last month. So far, 16 people have died as a result of complications from the disease and the illness has caused several millions of do...