At least 100 people gathered outside the US State Idaho Capitol building to burn masks to protest measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Associated Press reported.

Some groups consider the requirement to wear masks as a restriction of their freedoms, while health experts say that wearing masks slows the growth rate of COVID-19.

Footage posted online shows adults encouraging children to throw masks into the fire.

The state as a whole has recorded more than 170,000 cases of coronavirus infection, with about 1,900 state residents killed by COVID-19.