I am writing to express my concern about the alarming growth of Corona Virus cases in Emporia and Lyon County and the situation created by politics and the Kansas legislature when they took leadership on controlling this pandemic in Kansas away from the Governor and dumped it in your laps.
For several months it appeared Lyon County was doing well, but that changed about a month ago when clusters broke out and community spread took hold. In the past month, Lyon County’s active cases have increased from a low of 16 to 86 on Monday! Deaths and hospitalizations have grown as well.
I appreciate your desire to keep regulations to a minimum, but these increasing new cases indicate we need to start using every available tool in our tool chests. This is especially true with several thousand college students arriving soon and public schools opening with extracurricular activities included.
Our challenges are growing and a mandatory mask-wearing law will send a message to our new guests we are serious about beating this virus.
Mandatory mask regulations have proven effective in many cities across America and the effectiveness of masks was well documented by the hairdresser in Missouri who while being an active COVID 19 carrier worked on 89 clients all wearing masks with none of them getting the disease.
Lord knows we no one enjoys wearing a mask, but I’d suggest such a practice from now until the end of September has the potential to pay large dividends in our battle with Corona.
Every other Regent’s University city in Kansas including Pittsburg and Hays have mask restrictions with fines in place!
I’ve been taught that good government does for its people what they can not do for themselves. Wearing masks is most effective if everyone complies. That will only happen if you adopt a new law with penalties. We the people can’t do this on our own even if it may be a big game-changer.
Sadly politics put this decision on your plates. I’m sure you are hearing a lot of people suggesting wearing a mask should be a personal decision, but on occasion, public health and safety needs to take precedent over individual rights. Using every tool we have available to fight this virus would appear to be one of those situations.
With local virus numbers spiraling, our public schools opening, and our college students returning I pray you will give this opportunity serious consideration and act quickly to protect your constituents.
Thank you.
Steve Sauder
