News Flash

Grant County Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response to Mandating Mask Use

The Grant County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in special session this morning with the Emergency Management Coordinator, Health Department Administrator, Sheriff, and local media for the purpose of discussion of the anticipated Executive Order mandating mask use by the public in Kansas.   After much discussion, the BOCC voted to publicly state that Grant County does not have the resources or the ability to fairly and consistently enforce such a mandate across the county.  We will continue to stress the importance of social distancing and mask use as the most effective prevention actions for COVID-19 and will enhance the existing local public education campaign by Grant County Health Department and Grant County Emergency Management to continue to share the most current information with local businesses and citizens.  Local citizens and businesses are highly encouraged to comply with Public Health recommendations as we move through this pandemic response.  Additional signage and educational materials will be ordered and made available to businesses and others in the county.  All businesses are strongly encouraged by the BOCC, Health Department and Emergency Management to make masks available for their workers and ensure adequate social distancing is maintained.  All citizens should carry a mask with them for their personal use when adequate social distance can not be maintained.  All local planning partners support this effort to keep Grant County citizens safe and allow economic recovery to continue in our county.  The BOCC, Health Department and Emergency Management reserve the right to change course and tighten restrictions should additional cases within Grant County and the surrounding area warrant that action.  The BOCC, Health Department and Emergency Management ask citizens to please be aware of surrounding county restrictions when traveling.