Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to accept Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order requiring masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but they are making it a strong recommendation rather than a mandate.
Commissioners heard from the county health officer, Dr. Garold Minns, that coronavirus cases are increasing and it’s getting to the point where the health department is having trouble with tracing contacts of infected persons. He said the department doesn’t have enough staffing to reach all of the contacts. He said he is also hearing strong concerns from hospitals about the increase in cases. He said they have beds to handle more cases but they may not have enough staffing if there is a surge in hospitalizations. Dr. Minns said there should be some type of order that explains the need for wearing masks.
After two hours of discussion, commission chairman Pete Meitzner moved to accept the order as a strong recommendation but he said he is focusing attention every day on the coronavirus situation. He said if the numbers continue to go wrong, he will call for another special meeting to look at more action.
Commissioner David Dennis said he is strongly urging citizens to wear a mask when they go out in public. He said commissioners are taking this seriously but “How do we get that seriousness out to the public. I don’t know that it’s with a mandate, because I don’t think it’s enforceable, so it’s going to have to come down to education.”
Commissioner Lacey Cruse pointed out that there are laws mandating seat belts and she said recommendations don’t work. Commissioner Jim Howell wanted to wait until next week to look at changes in the governor’s order.
The commission voted 3-2, with Cruse and Howell voting no, to support Meitzner’s motion for a strong recommendation.
Sedgwick County was reporting 1,328 cases of coronavirus on Thursday, with 598 active cases and 702 people who have recovered. The county remains at 28 deaths.
Harvey County commissioners voted earlier in a special meeting to rescind the governor’s order, and they expressed support and encouragement for people to wear face masks. They felt that a mandate would not be an effective and productive measure. Harvey County sheriff Chad Gay said he didn’t have the resources to monitor that every person is wearing a mask. He said a business owner can require customers to wear a mask, and if a customer causes a disturbance over the policy, deputies will respond.
Harvey County was reporting 42 cases of COVID-19 with 13 known active cases.
