New mask order from Sedgwick County health officer extends mask requirement to Oct. 21

A new emergency order from Sedgwick County’s health officer extends the face mask requirement for more than a month while changing the definition of a mask.

The order issued Thursday by Dr. Garold Minns extends the mask requirement to Oct. 21. It had been set to expire Sept. 8.

The order also removes masks with a one-way valve or vent through which air can be exhaled. Face shields are still allowed.

“I firmly believe that one main reason for the trends moving in the right direction is citizen compliance and wearing masks,” Minns said in a news release. “Thank you to residents for wearing a mask and to business owners for encouraging others to wear masks while in public.”

Data on COVID-19 showed improvement over the past month. Both the positive test percentage and the rate of new cases compared to population declined in August.

“Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction,” a county news release stated.

Minns announced his first mask order on July 8, after the Sedgwick County Commission rejected a similar order by Gov. Laura Kelly. The Wichita City Council passed its own mask ordinance at a special meeting after the governor’s order was rejected.

Under a state law passed in June, the commissioners can overturn or amend Minns’ order. The commission does not have a scheduled meeting until Wednesday, the day the order takes effect.

While the Sedgwick County order is lawful, compliance is voluntary. The Wichita mask ordinance has fines ranging from $25 to $100, though police have preferred education over enforcement.

It is not clear why masks with valves were removed from the face covering definition while face shields are still allowed. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University determined in a study published Tuesday that neither face shields nor masks with valves are effective against spread of the coronavirus.

“Results of the study show that although face shields block the initial forward motion of the jet, the expelled droplets move around the visor with relative ease and spread out over a large area depending on light ambient disturbances,” researchers wrote. “Visualizations for the face mask equipped with an exhalation port indicate that a large number of droplets pass through the exhale valve unfiltered, which significantly reduces its effectiveness as a means of source control.”

Another change to the order allows exceptions to the cap on attendance of 2,000 people at entertainment venues. Venues may now submit a plan to Minns for approval of larger events.

There did not appear to be any other changes in the order.

People are still required to wear masks when in public spaces. Exemptions include children who are 5 years old or younger and people who cannot safely wear a mask. Bars, restaurants and night clubs that sell alcohol may continue to operate at 50% capacity as late as 11 p.m.

This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 3:38 PM.