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Brown Co extends mask mandate

By Greg Bebermeyer

12/07/2020

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission voted Monday to extend a mask mandate for three weeks and impose a limit on mass gatherings to 50 people.

The vote was 2-1, with Commissioner Keith Olsen casting the dissenting vote. Olsen felt it should be an individual decision, not mandatory.

Commissioners will revisit the matter at their December 28th meeting.

County Health Officer Robin Downard and Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg recommended the mask mandate be extended until January 19 and a 25-person limit be placed on mass gatherings to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Broberg said the biggest issue at the hospital is with staffing not available bed space. He said 20 percent of the hospital's workforce has been impacted by COVID-19. Broberg said if they don't see a decrease in the spread of COVID-19 they may need to postpone some procedures and reallocate staffing to accommodate the care of their patients.

The mask mandate has been in place since November 16, and Downard said the county has seen a decrease in cases since that time.

As of Monday, there were 95 active cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 5 currently hospitalized. Brown County has seen a total of 798 positive cases since the beginning of the pandemic and 12 COVID-19 related deaths.

The limit on mass gatherings does not apply to religious gatherings, but masks are still required.

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