Coping with Covid: Vote to extend mask mandate in Johnson County passes

A Thursday vote by Johnson County commissioners on whether to continue Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate passed by a narrow margin of 4-3, the mandate now set to last for another month, through Oct. 15.

The state’s mask mandate was put to a vote in Johnson County on Thursday, county commissioners voting 4-3 to extend Kansas Gov. Kelly’s mask order.

Passing by a narrow margin, residents in the county will now be expected to continue to comply with the mask order currently in place, which has now been extended to Oct. 15.

Voting took place after public comment from dozens of residents for and against the mandate. Public comment lasted four hours.

Leading up to Thursday’s discussion and vote, last week the Republican-led State Finance Council has also voted, choosing to extend Kelly’s emergency declaration until the same date of Oct. 15.