A county-wide mask ordinance and mass gathering limits of 45 or less are two of the key components of Lyon County’s new public health order.
County commissioners unanimously adopted the order during their regular session Thursday morning. The order will bring with it a mask mandate for both individuals and businesses within Lyon County.
Individuals will be required to wear a mask anytime they are inside, or in line to enter, any indoor public space, obtaining services from healthcare providers, waiting for or utilizing public transportation or in any public space where social distancing cannot be maintained. For businesses, masks will be required for both employees and customers while inside of or working in any public area or areas where food is prepared or packaged for sale.
Lyon County Commission Chair Rollie Martin has stated on numerous occasions he was not in favor of a mandate such as this and preferred to encourage personal responsibility amongst individuals. Martin believes this mandate still emphasizes that ideal and simply acts as a stronger motivator for individuals to be more mindful of their actions.
Commissioners passed the order following extensive conversations with local health professionals from Newman Regional Health Thursday morning. Newman CEO Bob Wright stated before the order was passed that he is not in favor of a mask mandate, nor has he ever been, as he feels individuals will not adhere to it.
The mandate will not supersede any orders previously in place through the city of Emporia. The order will simply overlay the city’s mandate as the County Commission is not the governing body within the Emporia city limits.
On top of the mask ordinance, a mass gathering restriction of 45 people or less will be in place for outdoor and indoor entertainment venues. However; exceptions may be provided to that limit if the Public Health Officer gives formal approval of a written mitigation plan.
The limit is a drastic reduction from the county’s previous health order which allowed up to 2,000 individuals to attend indoor and outdoor gatherings providing 10 groups of 10 people could properly maintain social distancing. Commissioner Scott Briggs stated he felt the previous order simply gave individuals a “green light” in terms of gatherings and community spread.
He feels the new order could serve as a “caution light” to help slow down the surge of COVID-19 cases the local area has been experiencing over the past week.
Public Health Officer Renee Hively says while the new order will see the county take some steps back in terms of mitigation practices, she believes the order will be the first step forward in getting the current surge of cases back under control.
In addition to the mask mandate and limitations on gatherings, long-term care facilities will no longer permit visitors until further notice by the Lyon County Board of Health or the Public Health Officer. The new order goes into effect Friday and will remain in place through Jan. 14 or until it is amended or rescinded by the Lyon County Commission.
Prior to the board’s decision on the health order, Lyon County Commission Second District representative Dan Slater, who announced he will be stepping down from his position at the conclusion of his current term, stated he will be officially resigning his seat on the commission following the official county vote canvas on Monday. Further details on this situation are currently pending.
KVOE has reached out to Slater for comment on the decision. Republican Doug Peck was voted to supplant Slater as the Second District representative on the commission during the general election on Tuesday evening.
You can find a copy of the new county health order online with this story at KVOE.com.
The Lyon County Commission will next convene Thursday at 9 am for its regular action session.
LYON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER 
