A petition that calls for a mask mandate in Washington County is circulating with the support of area long term care facilities. Susan Wellington with Halcyon House explains the petition, “We decided that the best thing would be to try to have a full mask mandate put in place for Washington County. Some people have commented that the Governor just implemented a mask mandate, but her mandate is limited. It’s limited to inside more than 15 minutes and people who can’t distance by six feet. So, our mandate that we’re going to be asking the Board of Supervisors for is just a mask mandate period. If you’re outside your home, you’re required to wear a mask.” Wellington says Halcyon House has partnered with the United Presbyterian Home and Pearl Valley in Washington, Parkview Manor in Wellman, and Pleasantview Home in Kalona in the effort to gather signatures.

As of Sunday, Washington County’s 14-day positivity rate was 18.3%.

Halcyon House CEO Chris Marshall encourages people to wear masks in public, “We see it as helping our people when we wear our masks. We’re keeping them safer. And if we can get the positivity rate down in our county it’s going to make things better for a whole lot of people.” She said with the current high rates of COVID-19, nursing facilities have to test twice weekly. She added that lower case numbers will help both staff and residents, as then long term care facilities can have visitors.

Click here to visit the online petition.