Do the right thing, Sedgwick County Commission — take action, mandate masks

Enough politicking and pussyfooting.

Enough dodging, ducking, waffling and equivocating.

If Sedgwick County commissioners truly want to protect our community’s health and economy, they should heed the advice of their health officer — and the warnings of local hospital officials — and send a strong, clear message.

They should, as Garold Minns recommended Tuesday, impose a partial travel ban (particularly on out-of-state sports teams), limit restaurant capacities, and follow Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order requiring face masks in public spaces.

Those measures could help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and might prevent more drastic actions, including another lengthy shutdown or stay-at-home order.

“At some point we have to educate people what to do and help them make a decision,” Minns told commissioners Tuesday.

Stricter regulations “may have to become the norm until this thing is under control, because we see what happens when we relax them.”

About a month ago, Minns warned county leaders that the coronavirus was still here and still dangerous. He suggested reopening some businesses but keeping bars and nightclubs closed and limiting public gatherings to 20 people or less.

The commission ignored him, deciding to reopen everything without rules or restrictions.

Residents rushed back to business as usual — many of them blatantly refusing to wear face masks. And within weeks, as predicted, county health officials reported an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Not a little increase. A 257% jump in the number of active cases. In one month.

So here we are again.

Minns watched the trend lines, conferred with hospital officials and suggested a few common-sense measures.

And although commissioners took no formal action on the doctor’s advice, several hinted that they’d prefer a second opinion.

Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner pushed back against criticism of a recent youth basketball tournament in which at least three attendees tested positive for COVID-19, saying “only 150 to 200 people” were together at once.

If Sedgwick County bans teams from outside the state, Meitzner suggested, couldn’t they just play in nearby Reno or Harvey counties?

Maybe so. But you’re elected to set policy for Sedgwick County — so do it.

Commissioner Jim Howell said Sedgwick County’s COVID-19 numbers are “very low” and that perhaps we’re just “catching up” to the rest of the country.

Is that a game of catch-up we really want to play?

Commissioner Michael O’Donnell pressed Minns on face masks: What about elderly people in church? What about people with developmental disabilities? What about children? Have any children even died of COVID-19?

Then Meitzner again: Should businesses with just a handful of employees require their people to wear masks all day?

Yes, Minns said, and he pointed to simple economics.

“Employees circulate outside in the community, and how do you know one of them isn’t coming in . . . and spreading the virus?” he said. “How many of those employees do you want out for a 14-day quarantine?”

Wearing face masks “is one of the few ways we have to keep this thing from spreading so fast,” Minns said.

“It’s not 100% effective. I don’t even know it’s 50% effective, but I know it’s more than zero. So we’re trying to have your businesses keep going and not have interruptions.”

In coming days, commissioners will have another chance to respond to this evolving pandemic, demonstrate leadership and protect residents and businesses.

Enacting their medical adviser’s three suggestions would be a start.

This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 1:20 PM.