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The governor of Utah has declared a state of emergency, ordering residents to wear masks “for the foreseeable future” as hospitals struggle to keep up with an “alarming rate” of COVID-19 infections.

Gov. Gary Herbert issued the new mandate Sunday requiring residents to wear masks while in public, at work or whenever they’re unable to keep six feet of distance from others, until they’re told otherwise.

“Businesses must require employees to wear masks and to promote mask-wearing to their patrons and to visibly post signage to that effect,” Herbert said in a video statement. “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.”

Herbert said state residents cannot “afford to debate” whether to wear masks any longer as its hospitals remain overcrowded. The Republican governor had previously resisted calls to extend the mask mandate already in effect in some counties, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

“Laws are put in place to protect all of us,” Herbert said. “That’s why we have traffic lights, speed limits and seatbelts, and that’s why we now have a mask mandate.”

The new restrictions take effect Monday afternoon until at least Nov. 23, while the mask mandate will remain in place “until further notice,” Herbert said.

The governor also put a two-week moratorium on all school extracurricular activities, including athletic events with the exception of high school championship games, professional and college sports as long as coaches and players test negative.

Herbert’s order also mandates all public and private college students who live on campus or attend at least one in-person class be tested for the virus no later than Jan. 1.

“I ask you now, and I implore you, to do everything within your power to stop the spread of this disease,” Herbert said. “The day will come when we won’t have to wear masks or social distance — when we will be able to see everyone we love and care about and give hugs and handshakes without worrying about unknowingly spreading this disease.”

The order does not apply to churches, and bars must shut down at 10 p.m. nightly, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Utah is currently averaging more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases per week, with 46 fatalities reported last week, and state officials reported a record 424 active hospitalizations on Sunday, according to the newspaper.