The Barton County Commission met at 9 a.m. today as the Barton County Board of Health and voted unanimously to adopt a county-wide mask mandate that goes into effect immediately. It applies to the entire county, including the incorporated areas.

Governor Laura Kelly’s latest executive order would have gone into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday if no action was taken by the county. This mandate basically follows the executive order, but it is more lenient in a couple of respects. 

The executive order would require employees to wear masks in any area open to the public. The county’s resolution allows employees in those areas to work without wearing masks at times when the public is not in the area, when they can social distance or when they are behind a protective barrier such as a plexiglass shield.

The Great Bend Tribune will post the resolution and more details later today.