Health Officials Ask Board To Review Mask Order

After voting down a county-wide mask mandate last month, officials on the Dubuque County Board of Health are asking leaders to consider the move again. At a meeting this week, the board of health agreed to send a letter to the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors urging them to take action on a mask mandate. The board voted 2-1 against a county-wide mask ordinance in September, citing issues related to home rule and whether the county had such authority over towns. County board supervisors did say that towns would be able to vote on and implement their own mask mandate. However, only the City of Dubuque has gone forward with a mask ordinance. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have risen drastically in Dubuque County over the past month. There is no word yet if the board of supervisors will bring the issue up again.