93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
The Boone County Commission is strongly considering a mask mandate.
Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill says he is looking at a 30-day mandate starting soon after Thanksgiving.
“There’s probably nobody in Boone County that doesn’t know they should wear a mask, or they should social distance. People have made conscious decisions not to. So the next level of this, with public support, is to say you have to.”
Community officials on a conference call Monday morning supported the move. Southern Boone school superintendent Chris Felmlee says he has seen a lot of positive coronavirus cases in his district.
“I am absolutely terrified what’s going to happen to my 2,000 kids as they go home for Thanksgiving and social gatherings and what the ramifications are going to be on the school district and its ability to maintain in-seat instruction,” Felmlee said. “Anything that the county can do to help support safer choices I think is imperative.”
The Columbia City Council passed its mask mandate in July.
Boone County reported 120 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, and 210 on Sunday. The county averaged 153 coronavirus cases a day last week, one of the highest five-day averages during the pandemic. Hospitalizations in Boone are near record highs. Hospital resources are strained, and some non-emergency procedures are on hold.
Missouri averaged 3,510 coronavirus cases a day last week. There were 2,817 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, as of late last week.
