On Monday morning, The Register established a face mask policy for employees. Expecting pushback, I came prepared with charts showing the increase in COVID-19 cases in Southeast Kansas as well as how it’s the younger demographic, those 18-44, that are now being hit hardest. 
As a group, we discussed a backup plan in case one of us contracts the virus, making it necessary for all but a skeleton crew to work from home. Fortunately, we have good IT support, allowing us to construct the paper remotely if need be.
We also discussed how we each have a responsibility to help curb the spread of the virus by wearing masks when meeting with clients or doing interviews.
To my surprise, many acted relieved.
And why wouldn’t they?
Finally, I was doing my job of taking steps to protect employees. Most likely some had wanted to wear masks all along, but perhaps felt intimidated by their co-workers or others, which is a sad commentary about how this pandemic has turned into a political proxy war.
LATE MONDAY afternoon, Gov. Laura Kelly said she would issue a statewide face mask order to take effect at midnight tonight.
Some counties didn’t wait.
In short order, Shawnee County issued a countywide policy with Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla saying, “It’s not about fear, it’s about the science and making sure that we take care of each other.”
In the Lawrence area, the Douglas County Health Department made masks mandatory in all indoor places where keeping six feet of separation isn’t possible.
The same with Wyandotte, Kansas City, and Jackson County.
Elsewhere, things aren’t so clear.
In Manhattan, one city commissioner is flat out against the face masks, saying they engender undue fear about the virus.
“I don’t want to feed the paranoid germaphobia that some people have,” said Commissioner Mark Hatesohl.
Sedgwick County commissioners have said they’ll debate it late next week. Despite their fast-rising numbers, from 974 to 1,368 in the last week, they’ve maintained a hands-off policy.
As a state, the number of confirmed cases jumped from 12,970 to 14,990 in one week’s time.
IF COUNTIES do nothing, Kelly’s mandate takes effect. To buck the order, official action is needed. And this is where the door to the ugliness of politics is cracked.
Within an hour of Kelly announcing the mandate, Republican leaders attacked her decision.
Such partisanship leads us to wonder that if county commissioners vote to reject the governor’s order, are they doing so because she’s a Democrat or because they truly don’t regard face masks an effective measure against the pandemic or that their citizens are somehow immune?
Every law restricts us to some degree, but with the intent of the greater good. I would argue the sacrifice of my comfort in wearing a face mask is worth preventing the spread of the coronavirus to others.
