Pandemic backlash jeopardizes public health powers, leaders
Tisha Coleman has lived in close-knit Linn County, Kansas, for 42 years and never felt so alone.
As the public health administrator, she’s struggled every day of the coronavirus pandemic to keep her rural county along the Missouri border safe. In return, she’s been harassed, sued, vilified — and called a “sheep.”
The months of fighting over masks and quarantines were already wearing her down. Then she got COVID-19, likely from her husband, who refused to require masks at the family hardware store. Her mother got it, too, and died Sunday.
Across the U.S., state and local public health
whole county, but if it’s an emergency ordinance by us, it only covers the unincorporated areas,” Madrone added.
First District Supervisor Rex Bohn asked how the proposal would be enforced.
“Who’s going to enforce it and who’s going to prosecute it? I hope it’s not going to be our law enforcement guys because there’s enough despair and things going on with COVID, domestic violence and everything else, that we need our people out there for that,” Bohn said. “I’d rather spend this money, time and effort on education.”
Madrone acknowledged the importance of having strong enforcement behind the action, noting that the city of Trinidad will issue a $1,000 fine for people who do not adhere to its ordinance.
“The city of Trinidad can do that because it’s small and it can require people wanting to book a room to come to the city clerk to provide evidence that they’re an essential worker,” he added.
Humboldt Count y Health Officer Dr. Ian Hoffman underscored the importance of refraining from all non- essential travel.
“Our message has been very clear all along. We discourage people from traveling, we’ve been saying
it the whole time,” Hoffman said. “Avoiding travel around the holidays will reduce the risk of spread, there’s no question about that. We have a travel advisory from the California Department of Public Health that says no one should be traveling except for essential travel.”
Several Trinidad residents spoke in favor of the proposal during public comment, including former councilmember Dwight Miller, who said “it’s not perfect but it will help.”
“The county may not be able to control all lodging, but it can severely limit the number of visitors but having a lodging moratorium. If we wait until the 15% ICU limit is breached, we may be too late,” Miller said.
“I’m highly opposed to this agenda item,” Thomas Mulder said during public comment. “Unless you as a county are willing to sup
plement everyone’s financial wellbeing … I think any policies that will shut down a business or take away someone’s ability to provide for their families … shouldn’t even be discussed.”
After public comment, Wilson acknowledged why Madrone brought the proposal forward but said he felt, “it should not be the ongoing practice of the board to try and influence or being perceived as influencing the work of the ( policy committee).”
The board ultimately decided not to take any action on the proposal. Madrone thanked the board for the thoughtful conversation and said that “it really just does come down to personal responsibility.”
“I recognize that this is difficult, creating orders without enforcement is not ideal, but I appreciate what has been happening and the strong educational approach,” Madrone said.