Petition for Mask Mandate in Cole County Missouri

Petition to Immediately Implement and Enforce Mask Mandate in Cole County

Whereas the spread of the novel coronavirus in Missouri is “exponential and unyielding” :
● 98% of all Missouri counties, including Cole County, are in the red zone for all three of the metrics: new cases, positivity rate and COVID-19-related deaths.
● The Cole County COVID-19 report for 11/26/20 was 6079 cases, a seven-day positivity rate of 24.6% and 49 COVID-19-related deaths, placing it in an “Extreme Risk” category according to the state’s most recent Public Health Warning;

Whereas the state has issued a strongly worded Public Health Warning predicting that the COVID-19 virus will spread more rapidly during the coming winter months. According to this warning, if the spread of the virus is not slowed, health care systems could be overwhelmed, posing significant risk not only to those suffering from the virus, but also to our first responders, healthcare workers, and anyone requiring health care support for non-COVID-19 conditions;

Whereas Capital Region Medical Center reports a dramatic rise in COVID-19 admissions since August along with staffing shortages. St. Mary’s Hospital has experienced "an alarming increase in hospitalizations from COVID-19” and officials warn that “resources are being strained and could reach a breaking point if safety measures are not followed.” “Wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and limiting gatherings… must be put in place so we do not overwhelm the healthcare system in Mid-Missouri.” The Missouri Hospital Association has urged Gov. Parson to take immediate action and issue a statewide mask mandate, stating “the wolf is at the door”;

Whereas COVID-19 is adversely and often irreparably affecting individuals, families, churches and businesses in Cole County as well as institutions such as local and state governments, Lincoln University, public and private K-12 schools, the Jefferson City Correctional Center, and state parks;

Whereas the accelerated outbreak of the virus threatens the underlying viability of the local economy, still struggling to recover from the deep recession that struck in early spring. Indeed, the state’s Public Health Warning emphasizes that community lockdowns and curbs on businesses are not necessary if basic public safety precautions are followed (i.e., wearing of masks);

Whereas the wearing of masks at all times in public or other settings outside one’s home where social distancing is not possible, has proven to be a highly effective means to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A recent study shows that three weeks after imposing a mask mandate in St. Louis City and County, infection rates were 44% lower than those of surrounding counties. Neighboring jurisdictions of Boone County, Columbia and Fulton have instituted similar mask wearing requirements;

Whereas Gov. Parson has embraced local level decision-making tailored to each community’s needs with expectations that local communities can establish higher, more stringent standards than the state’s health advisory baseline (see Public Health Warning). The Governor has stated that he will support the decisions of local governments;

Whereas efforts taken to date by state and county officials urging personal responsibility for mask-wearing have not been sufficient to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Cole County, mitigation efforts are further hampered by the health department’s lack of capacity to do contact tracing, and vaccination of significant numbers of people to be effective is on the far horizon; now, therefore, be it

Resolved that we, the undersigned, out of consideration for our community and our heroic healthcare and other essential workers, with the rightful expectation that our tax dollars should provide for protection of the public health, demand that a mask mandate be instituted in Cole County effective immediately. Masks worn properly should be required for all persons entering any and all places of public accommodation.

Email for footnote documentation.