After a special meeting Friday, Sedgwick County Commissioners voted to receive and file a proposed health order requiring masks to be worn in the community to slow the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19. The move effectively denies the order.
Commissioners met for three hours and heard a number of comments from citizens who were divided on the issue. The commission took a five-minute recess at one point, and commissioners Lacey Cruse and Sarah Lopez said they had to call home to take steps to protect their children because of threats. Commissioner David Dennis said he didn’t understand why anyone would threaten someone else over this issue. He said he hopes the community will start to work together to get through the pandemic. Dennis said a mask mandate will make things worse and he said his concern is that people aren’t getting the COVID-19 vaccine. He said “we have to convince the public that we have a tool that works.” Dennis also said this is something that Sedgwick County can’t solve alone, and the state needs to address this issue.
Commissioner Jim Howell said the mask order would be a band aid, and unless more people get vaccinated, COVID-19 is not going to go away. Howell moved to receive and file the report.
Commissioners Cruse and Lopez urged approval of the order to support the medical community and protect children. Cruse made a substitute motion to approve the health order, but that failed 2-3 with Cruse and Lopez as the only yes votes. Howell’s motion was then approved 3-2 with Howell, Dennis and Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner voting yes.
Dennis said the motion still honors the order from Dr. Minns. He said if something comes up later, the order can be considered again.
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(from the original story on the health order)
Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer proposed a new health order requiring masks in the following situations.
– within any indoor public space
– while outdoors, in line waiting to enter an indoor public space and/or unable to maintain social distancing at all times
– while riding on public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle
The order also calls on businesses, non-profit organizations and other groups to require masks for employees, customers, visitors or members of the public under certain conditions:
· employees are working in any space visited by customers or members of the public
· employees who are working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution
· employees are in any room or enclosed area where other people are present and unable to maintain a six foot distance except for infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity
The proposal has some exceptions:
– children age two years and under
– persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, who are hearing impaired or have a disability that prevents wearing a face covering
– individuals who are actively speaking in front of an audience of other individuals, including at a religious institution, wedding, funeral, an open meeting of a political or taxing subdivision
