As local health officials prepare for a potential fourth spike in the COVID-19 pandemic, local tensions are beginning to reach unforeseen heights.
During an update to the Lyon County Commission Thursday morning, Public Health Incident Commander and Flint Hills Community Health Center CEO Renee Hively reported that a member of the health center’s staff had recently been verbally accosted over the phone Thursday. Hively says the caller allegedly made several derogatory statements to the employee and supposedly threatened.
Hively alleges the call was made in response to recent recommendations on mask use policy and the health center has filed a formal complaint with the Emporia Police Department.
This comes as the COVID-19 delta variant has continued to gain prominence both nationally and locally with 25 cases within Lyon County according to Thursday’s report.
The presence of the variant strain has recently sparked heated debates on the topic of mask use and other mitigation policies both amongst citizens and elected officials alike. In fact, Wednesday evening USD 253 Board of Education members voted to institute mandatory mask use for students and visitors under the age of 11 and optional mask use for students and visitors over the age of 12 and all staff.
Wednesday’s meeting saw an abundance of opinions registered on both sides of the issue with many board members calling the topic “overly politicized.”
Hively agreed with this assertion Thursday saying “public health should come before politics.” Hively says she hopes the situation does not become worse, however, she says she sees how the situation could worsen before it improves.
County Commission Chair Rollie Martin says they welcome feedback and input from the community, however, it should not be presented in a threatening or combative manner.
Commissioner Scott Briggs says he understands individuals are tired and frustrated about the ongoing pandemic, but that does not excuse the behavior demonstrated Thursday morning.
No recommendations on mitigation policy were made during Thursday’s meeting.
Commissioner Doug Peck says the county is planning to stick with its current health order, which strongly recommends but does not mandate mitigation strategies, for the foreseeable future.
Peck, Martin and Briggs all agree there is no situation currently that would force them to deviate from the current health order.
The Lyon County Commission will reconvene next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse.
