Mandatory face coverings in public approved by EIPH board
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIDK/KIFI) UPDATE: The Eastern Idaho Public Health voted unanimously at a meeting Tuesday night via Zoom to approve an order to move Bonneville County into the moderate risk category; which would mandate the use of masks in the County for the next 14 days.
The board heard updated data from the five hospitals within the health district and also from Express Lab about their current testing capacity.
Toward the end of the meeting, all attention was placed on the recent data showing Bonneville County had more than 120 active cases of COVID-19 for three days in a row. Based on the protocol set forth last Wednesday by the board, this would move Bonneville County to the second risk level of the four-tiers.
Then came the vote.
"OK, we have a motion and a second. I'm going to do a roll call vote on this.
Madison County, Commissioner Smith?" asked board chair Byron Reed remotely.
"Yes," replied Todd Smith.
"And Jefferson County, Commissioner Young?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Shayne Young.
"Fremont County, Commissioner Miller?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Lee Miller.
"Teton County, Mister Leake?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Bille Leake.
"Clark County has left for another meeting, so we'll skip over him. Custer County, Commissioner Butts?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Wayne Butts.
And Lemhi County, Commissioner Miner?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Ken Miner.
"And Doctor Nelson our Physician Representative?" asked Reed.
"Yes," replied Dr. Barbara Nelson, vice-chair of the board.
"OK. The chair will follow and vote 'Yes.' The motion passes unanimously," said Reed.
The approval of this order moves Bonneville County into the second level of the four-stage risk plan: moderate, and mandates masks in public places where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
It goes into effect immediately.
It will be in place for 14 days unless rescinded, superseded, or amended by the board of health as stated in the protocol order established last week.
The question of enforcement is still up in the air.
You can view the full order HERE.
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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIDK/KIFI) - Could Bonneville County be moving to a mask mandate? The Eastern Idaho Public Health will be meeting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the possibility.
The face mask discussion, among other things, is an item on the agenda. Other items of note are hearing from five hospitals within the health district for updated reports on their situations.
Also, a representative from Express Lab will update the district on their testing capacities.
The district will then review the metrics established by the health district last Wednesday.
That plan is broken down into stages, creating risk levels for the district: minimal, moderate, high, and critical. Each risk level has a limit for amounts of cases and hospitalizations in counties within the health district. If a county reaches stage two, the moderate risk, then mandatory face coverings may be ordered. For that to happen, active cases need to reach 10 for every 10,000 people and last for at least three days. Bonneville County would have to reach 120 active cases.
