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County board extends mask mandate for two weeks

During its regular meeting on Monday, the Cloud County board of commissioners approved leaving the ordinance designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the area in effect and review it again in two weeks.
The ordinance mandates the countywide wearing of masks or face coverings when in public and the enforcement of isolation and quarantine orders related to COVID-19. It was originally passed by a 2-1 vote on November 16 and was to be reviewed every 30 days, and remain in effect until rescinded by County Health Officer Dorothy Breault or the commission.
Cloud County Health Department administrator Brandi Bray met with the commission during the meeting and reported that there had been 16 new COVID-19 cases reported in the county since Thursday, as well as two new deaths and six hospitalizations.
There have been a total of 818 COVID-19 cases reported in the county since March, with 213 of those being in December. There have been 21 deaths reported.
It is stated in the ordinance that all persons in the county shall cover their mouths and noses with a mask or other face covering that is secured to the head with ties, straps or loops over the ears or is simply wrapped around the lower face.
Five specific scenarios of when people must wear a mask are detailed in the ordinance and include:
Inside any indoor public space when social distancing at all times is not possible; in line and waiting to enter an indoor public space; obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings, including but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank, unless directed otherwise by an employee or healthcare provider; waiting for or riding on public transportation or in a ride-sharing vehicle; while outdoors in public spaces, when social distancing at all times is not possible.
The ordinance also details requirements of businesses, organizations and non-profit associations. It states that all must require all employees, customers, visitors, members, or members of the public to wear a mask or other face covering when employees are working in any space visited by customers, members of the public, or co-workers who are present at the time and social distancing at all times is not possible; employees are working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale for distribution to others; customers, members, visitors, or members of the public are in a facility managed by the business or organization; or employees are in any room or enclosed area where other people (except for individuals who reside together) are present and social distancing cannot be maintained at all times.
Also detailed in the ordinance are the exceptions to the mask rule.
The ordinance also states that all persons shall abide by isolation orders issued by a medical professional, county health department or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Any person, business, organization or non-profit association violating the provisions of the ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. It is punishable by a fine of no less than $25 plus court costs upon the first violation, no less than $50 plus court costs for the second violation and no less than $100 plus court costs for the third and subsequent violations.
Arrests shall not be made on the sole basis of violation of the ordinance.

 

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