How many Kansas counties rejected Gov. Kelly’s mask mandate? The number is alarming
How are Kansas counties responding to Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order mandating that masks be worn in buildings open to the public?
Dismissively. And that’s alarming.
In fact, it’s plainly ominous: More than 80% of the state’s 105 counties have rejected the governor’s mask mandate, which they have the legal power to do, in favor of mere “recommended” mask usage — which more local governments are coming to realize is not nearly enough to stem the returning tide of coronavirus cases.
Of those Kansans tested in the last week of June, 8.12% tested positive — more than double the 3.6% rate in the first week of June.
Yet, a search of all counties’ mask policies conducted this week by Mary Sabatini, legislative and communications director for Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, shows 85 counties have decided to make mask-wearing optional. Only 10 county governing boards, as of Tuesday, had affirmatively adopted the governor’s order or simply let it take effect in their county.
There’s a morsel of good news, in that those 10 include most of the more populated and coronavirus-active counties, such as Johnson, Wyandotte and Douglas counties. While Sedgwick County commissioners voted last week to reject mandated masks, the Wichita City Council voted to mandate them — and that covers more than 70% of the county’s population.
Denning, who lives in Overland Park, admits to being pro-mask, much more so than many of his Republican colleagues. An employee of a large group of eye surgeons and optometrists, he has observed firsthand how well masks can work. While seeing some 800 patients a day, the group has yet to have a single case among employees.
Denning is comforted by the fact that masks are mandated where most of the state’s population is. But viruses don’t recognize county lines. And if masks are effective in a large crowd, they’re no less effective in a small one.
“It’s concerning and disappointing to see a commonsense public health measure turned into a political stance — and Kansans deserve better,” Gov. Laura Kelly told The Star in a written statement. “We know wearing a mask slows the spread of the virus. If we want to open schools in the fall and keep our economy open — wear a mask. It’s a simple, proactive measure we can all take to keep each other safe.
“I will continue to honestly assess and confront the very real threat of COVID-19, and I strongly encourage other elected leaders in Kansas to do the same. That’s how we’ll keep Kansans healthy and keep Kansas open for business.”
Adds Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment: “With nearly 3,500 new cases in the past two weeks, Kansas has seen the steepest rate of new case development since the pandemic began. It is now more critical than ever that Kansans take appropriate precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19. Until there is a vaccine available, masks, good hygiene and social distancing are our best defenses against this virus. These actions are paramount to keeping you, your loved ones and fellow Kansans safe and healthy.”
Denning himself advises counties that are currently eschewing a mask mandate to reconsider if their rate of positive tests goes higher than 6% of those tested. In Johnson County, where commissioners voted to adopt the governor’s mask mandate, Denning said the positive case rate has spiked, from 3% in mid-May to 5% recently. He said if the mask mandate increases usage by just 15%, Johnson County could see its rate of positive tests fall back to 3.5% or so.
Interestingly, Sabatini and Denning plan to track positive case growth in counties with and without a mask mandate, so it may become clearer just how effective the requirement is.
Mask usage is among the keys to preventing another shutdown, Denning said.
“I would rather wear a mask than have the barber shop shut down. I do not want to take even a half-step backwards,” he said. “We can’t go backwards. A little state like Kansas would not survive another shutdown. We would never recover from that.”
The best way to avoid that: Wear a mask, even when the local government doesn’t require it.