Mask Mandate Lifted for Staff Areas

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mask Mandate Survey. There were 68 responses.

Here are the results:

• It should be an individual decision and the mask mandate should be completely lifted. 30 votes
• Only in public spaces when the public is present 21 votes
• In all public spaces and staff spaces 14 votes
• Only in Youth and Family Services sections of the library or in settings where the population is especially vulnerable, like assisted living facilities. 3 votes

No one vote got a majority, but there are clear messages: 

51 (75%) of you want to stop wearing masks in staff areas.

38 (56%) of you want to continue wearing masks in public spaces.

So, effective immediately, All KPL staff will continue to wear face masks when working directly with the public. Face masks are optional in staff areas of our libraries. 

I strongly recommend that you carry a mask with you wherever you go so that if you meet a staff member who is masked you can graciously apply your mask as a way of saying you care about that person and their personal health decisions. We continue to have positive cases on staff, so it remains your decision to wear a mask at all times if you want that extra protection. 

Sometime today the CDC is expected to announce a change in recommendations for face masks when indoors. The changes will be for counties where there is a very low incidence of infection and where hospitals have the capacity to handle any additional wave of infections. The vaccination rate in Kenosha County remains low (58%). It is unlikely that the recommendations will apply to our county. Should our county health department  adopt the CDC guidelines anyway, we will lift all remaining mask requirements for KPL staff at that time.

Again, thanks for participating in the survey!

Barb