While the county’s mask ordinance was lifted last week, which mainly pertained to fines for violations, health officials with the Marshall County Health Department and the Marshall County Commissioners urge all residents to follow Governor Eric Holcomb’s mask order that was renewed last week throughout the month of March.
Marshall County Commissioner Michael Burroughs said residents and business owners have worked hard to get the county to the point where it is now by following COVID-19 guidelines from the state and local Health Departments. Positivity rates have dropped to allow the county to drop to the blue status on the County Metrics Map, while still following guidelines in the yellow category.
Burroughs stated, “We are asking and encouraging people to have common sense and respect for one another. People have been so good and that’s why Marshall County is in the blue and headed downward. If you listen to Memorial Hospital, Beacon and St. Joseph Health Systems, they’re all trending down and that is all because of the people in our district have done what the governor and the local and county officials have requested. We appreciate everything that the residents have done as well as the businesses. We know people have suffered. “
The county level Public Health Emergency Disaster Declaration was also allowed to expire last week, but Governor Holcomb extended the state level declaration last week.
During the MAX Morning Show with Tony Ross last week, Marshall County Public Health Officer Dr. Byron Holm commented that all preventative measures should continue.
“I still think that what we need to do is remember what got us to where we’re at today,” commented Dr. Holm. “If we look again at the flu, which was always high at this time of the year, we’ve seen very minimal flu-type problems this year. Yeah, we’ve seen the COVID problem, but we’ve not seen the flu problem which indicates again that the masking, the hand washing, the distancing, and staying home when you’re sick is very important for the spread.”
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Lisa Letsinger also encouraged residents to stay on the current course.
