SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney on Monday criticized as “irresponsible” a weekend gathering of hundreds at a Salt Lake City airport parking garage to welcome home 900 missionaries with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returning home from the Philippines.
Romney, other top Utah politicians and the church itself said most of the people who showed up Sunday evening, some hugging arriving loved ones, should have heeded warnings to stay away to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Video and photos of the event showed many of those inside the parking garage standing shoulder to shoulder instead of at the recommended “social distancing” measure of 6 feet (1 meter) apart.