5.A. ORD 20-019 Second Reading and Action on Ordinance 20-019, an Ordinance to Revise Certain Measures Which Have Been Deemed Necessary to Slow the Community Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the City of Brookings, South Dakota.
Council members, as you very likely have seen the CDC has validated research that says masks can reduce transmission of the coronavirus by as much as 50 percent, and those who refuse are putting their lives, their friends, and their communities at risk. The choice is really quite simple. Please help save lives and approve Ordinance 20-019. The Council has done an excellent job protecting us during this pandemic. Keep it up. Thank you.
It is time to protect our health care workers who have been working 24/7 on the frontlines of this pandemic. Now that our community is in substantial spread of COVID-19 as well as the start of an influenza season, we need to take measures to keep our doctors and nurses healthy as they continue to provide care to the citizens of Brookings. Listen to the medical community. This won't last forever if we act now. What happens if the doctors, nurses and the those testing patients get ill?
We've had an ordinance in place for months and cases have still increased. Instead of government mandates, trust your citizens to make good choices, to love and care for their neighbor (however that looks for individuals). Let's promote kindness, acceptance and personal responsibility. We can be cautious, do our part to reduce the spread of COVID19 and be responsible citizens without the restrictions in place with this ordinance.The mask mandate especially will create more division and discord.
These are very reasonable and minimally obtrusive measures that can save lives, especially those who are most vulnerable in our community. It makes sense to enact these now, rather than having to shut things down in a few weeks when the cases get completely out of hand.
Brookings cases are at an all-time high, and face masks reduce virus spread from people who don't realize they are infected. Face masks are worn to protect those around you.
Covering the face and nose is one if the easiest ways to prevent infectious spread, especially when combined with other ongoing methods. Please support this in the interest of those most at risk.
Let people decide for themselves if they feel the need to wear a mask in public. We also have the freedom of choice to stay home if we feel unsafe in public spaces. The virus is here to stay. We have to figure out how to do normal without living in and promoting a culture of fear.
Brookings is now in substantial community spread for COVID-19. Masks do help reduce the respiratory spread of infectious disease. I think Ordinance 20-019 is a public safety necessity and fully support it at this time. I think it will be difficult to fully enforce, but the ordinance will help enough citizen to wear a mask to make a difference.
The Brookings school district is requiring masks of our youngest residents when they are indoors. The Board of Regents is making the same requirement of our college students, faculty, and staff. This ordinance only asks for the rest of us to meet those same requirements. I think the rest of us can and should make that small sacrifice as well.
Your data looks convincing but you cannot use the mitigation and suppression numbers to justify your stance if you are not doing enough testing. Your own data states you are not doing enough testing and very little research would show you are not using those metrics properly. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/30/883703403/as-coronavirus-surges-how-much-testing-does-your-state-need-to-subdue-the-virus
Open up free wide spread testing in Brookings before any new restrictions
These amendments will be totally unenforceable. Look at Walmart, they came out stating MASKS ARE REQUIRED as of July 20th.Where did that get them? Backpedaling just days later, because they could not mandate masks in their stores. Where do you think Brookings will stand if your favorite large box store cannot make it stick. People do not have to wear a sign that points out what illness they have that prevents them from wearing a mask.Go ahead wear one if you want to wear one! Don't live in fear!
Council members, as you very likely have seen the CDC has validated research that says masks can reduce transmission of the coronavirus by as much as 50 percent, and those who refuse are putting their lives, their friends, and their communities at risk. The choice is really quite simple. Please help save lives and approve Ordinance 20-019. The Council has done an excellent job protecting us during this pandemic. Keep it up. Thank you.
It is time to protect our health care workers who have been working 24/7 on the frontlines of this pandemic. Now that our community is in substantial spread of COVID-19 as well as the start of an influenza season, we need to take measures to keep our doctors and nurses healthy as they continue to provide care to the citizens of Brookings. Listen to the medical community. This won't last forever if we act now. What happens if the doctors, nurses and the those testing patients get ill?
We've had an ordinance in place for months and cases have still increased. Instead of government mandates, trust your citizens to make good choices, to love and care for their neighbor (however that looks for individuals). Let's promote kindness, acceptance and personal responsibility. We can be cautious, do our part to reduce the spread of COVID19 and be responsible citizens without the restrictions in place with this ordinance.The mask mandate especially will create more division and discord.
These are very reasonable and minimally obtrusive measures that can save lives, especially those who are most vulnerable in our community. It makes sense to enact these now, rather than having to shut things down in a few weeks when the cases get completely out of hand.
Brookings cases are at an all-time high, and face masks reduce virus spread from people who don't realize they are infected. Face masks are worn to protect those around you.
This is classic government overreach
Covering the face and nose is one if the easiest ways to prevent infectious spread, especially when combined with other ongoing methods. Please support this in the interest of those most at risk.
Let people decide for themselves if they feel the need to wear a mask in public. We also have the freedom of choice to stay home if we feel unsafe in public spaces. The virus is here to stay. We have to figure out how to do normal without living in and promoting a culture of fear.
Brookings is now in substantial community spread for COVID-19. Masks do help reduce the respiratory spread of infectious disease. I think Ordinance 20-019 is a public safety necessity and fully support it at this time. I think it will be difficult to fully enforce, but the ordinance will help enough citizen to wear a mask to make a difference.
The Brookings school district is requiring masks of our youngest residents when they are indoors. The Board of Regents is making the same requirement of our college students, faculty, and staff. This ordinance only asks for the rest of us to meet those same requirements. I think the rest of us can and should make that small sacrifice as well.
Your data looks convincing but you cannot use the mitigation and suppression numbers to justify your stance if you are not doing enough testing. Your own data states you are not doing enough testing and very little research would show you are not using those metrics properly. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/30/883703403/as-coronavirus-surges-how-much-testing-does-your-state-need-to-subdue-the-virus
Open up free wide spread testing in Brookings before any new restrictions
These amendments will be totally unenforceable. Look at Walmart, they came out stating MASKS ARE REQUIRED as of July 20th.Where did that get them? Backpedaling just days later, because they could not mandate masks in their stores. Where do you think Brookings will stand if your favorite large box store cannot make it stick. People do not have to wear a sign that points out what illness they have that prevents them from wearing a mask.Go ahead wear one if you want to wear one! Don't live in fear!