The panhandle health district’s health board met for a special meeting to discuss a potential mask mandate; the motion was denied and postponed following further discussion.

The Panhandle Health District’s health board met for a special meeting last week to discuss a potential mask mandate; the motion was denied and postponed following further discussion.

The statistical information on the rate of increase for coronavirus in the panhandle was delivered by an epidemiologist, Jeff Lee, who had to abruptly end his presentation due to hacking and writing PowerPoint presentation saying “No Mask.”

There was much public outrage at the potential mandatory mask mandate by the public in attendance at the PHD’s offices in Hayden.

Many of the board members viewed coronavirus’s risks as minimal to the majority of people, but increased risk for those with ailments.

Boundary County Commissioner Walter Kirby believed that the public should mask up, but those who did not want to wear a mask had that same right.

Kirby cited the Restorium “taking stringent rules for visitors” but also noted that a downtown business in Bonners Ferry had the right to implement a “no mask, no business” policy.

The concern by many on the board, including Commissioner Kirby, was that a mandatory mask mandate is unenforceable.

The board member advocating for a mask mandate is Dr. Richard Mclandress, who said, “This is not just a disease of the elderly,”

Mclandress stressed that any delay in requiring masks could boost the number of COVID-19 cases, stressing the capacity of North Idaho hospitals and other public services.

“If we don’t cool down our rise, we wont be able to send our kids back to school,” he said.

Mclandress states the board of the Panhandle Health District is supported by a legislative right to enforce a face coverings mandate.

Legal counsel Marc Lyons suggested a draft of a mandated requirement does exist that can be approved for and can be circulated to the board members.

Lyons warned the board, “approving before seeing a draft is problematic.”

No one seconded Mclandress’s motion for a mask mandate, meaning the motion died without a vote. However, the matter is expected to be considered again at today’s board meeting in Hayden.

The Panhandle Health District serves the five northernmost counties in Idaho.