Skip to content

Mask resolution passed by Laurens City Tuesday night

Laurens, South Carolina – Laurens City Council held a special called meeting Tuesday night June 30, and, after lengthy discussions, unanimously passed a resolution encouraging
Laurens residents to seriously take on the habits as outlined by health professionals in wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands often to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 “I think it’s important to realize the seriousness of the situation,” said Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn, noting that in the last four days the county’s confirmed cases had risen by more than 130 and included another death in a middle age person. “These protocols were compiled by career scientists and the resolution is consistent with what the governor of South Carolina is urging.”
Prior to the discussion of the resolution drafted by Senn, council had heard from and asked questions of Laurens County Hospital emergency department physician Paul Moore, who had been invited by Senn to provide insight into the current status of COVID-19 in Laurens County.

Moore explained that as of Tuesday, June 30, 21 beds in the county hospital were in use by COVID-19 patients, and some of them were very sick. He said the disease is difficult because it can impact many different organ systems. While it tends to have little impact on most healthy younger patients, older and at risk patients can become very sick or die.

Moore said critics of the public wearing masks discount the fact that surgical and fabric masks can be beneficial.

While the N95 respirator mask is the only mask that screens out all particles and is needed by health care staff, Moore said  surgical masks and fabric masks provide some protection to both the wearer and to others in the public.

“It will not protect you as well as the N95 but it’s not zero,” Moore said. “It will reduce some of the virus load you would be exposed to and it helps. The more people who are masked the less droplets are in the environment.”

Moore urged city council to use its voice to encourage the people of Laurens to follow the protocol.

“At least give credence to the standard things,” Moore said. “Wearing masks, washing hands, as a voice of rational people. Don’t lose that voice.”

Moore’s comments were a precursor to the agenda item which involved a discussion about the potential need for a mask ordinance.

City Attorney Tommy Thompson said an ordinance would require the general public to wear face coverings in public. However, no ordinance had as yet been written because the special called meeting was to discuss whether council would want to go in that direction.

“Maybe we never planned to take official action,” Thompson said, “but I wrote a rather strong letter to the mayor that possibly was asking for things that would be considered unreasonable. I don’t see it as a personal liberty situation. We need to think about protecting the community and I think Laurens needs to be proactive.

“It’s a hard situation and that’s what we’re here to do is solve hard problems,” Thompson said. “But I don’t think the city is out of line to require reasonable things to be done.”

In order to be passed by coun- cil, an ordinance would require two readings and would become a law. Thompson listed off many of the 17 cities, including Spartanburg, Greenville and Newberry, which have recently passed mask ordinances and which carry fines ranging from $25 to $500.

“I agree with Mr. Thompson that masks should be worn,” said council member Alicia Sullivan. “I am in favor of it because we should be leaders and think about the population which makes up Laurens, which has a lot of seniors. And we have one hospital. Being ahead of the curve would be the best move to make as a governing body.”

Other council members were concerned that it would be difficult to enforce such an ordinance or that it infringed upon civil liberties.

“I think encouraging people to use a mask with a resolution is one thing, but an ordinance is different,” council member Martin Lowry said. “An ordinance is a law. A resolution that we want to support wearing masks, I think that’s appropriate, but I would not be in favor of a mask ordinance.”

Council member Johnnie Bolt agreed with Lowry that an ordinance was too strong a statement and it would be unreasonable to expect the police to enforce it.

Marian Miller and Sara Latimore agreed that while people should be taking personal responsibility and wearing masks, very few have done so and it might be difficult to get them to change their behavior.

“Either way,” Latimore said, “as either a resolution or ordinance, it will stand for something. There are some who will not wear them but some people will, and they just want to hear that from us.”

“I don’t want it to appear that the City of Laurens has its head stuck in the sand,” Senn said. “(The virus) is infecting many of our citizens and I am concerned that all the sacrifices made by business members and our citizens during the shutdown … Will we have thrown all that sacrifice away because we didn’t have the perseverance to reopen things well?”

While it carries no enforcement measures, the resolution, which passed unanimously, gives permission to business owners to post signs requiring masks in their places of business and stresses the need for citizens to exhibit responsibility for themselves and for others by wearing masks, especially in public buildings.

 

17 Comments

  1. Pearl Looney on July 1, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    I have family members that are risking their lives every day in the medical field to help save lives. The least our county can do is require our citizens to wear a mask.

    • C. Joy Kuhnel on July 2, 2020 at 12:05 am

      Hi Pearl ! I agree with you 100%. This virus is more dangerous than “the flu.” For many of us we have at least 1 condition that makes us more at risk. Many of us are overweight, have lung issues from asthma or smoking. Even being on blood pressure meds is a fairly common med that some over 40 have to take. This virus is affecting young adults to seniors. I hate hearing how there can be permanent organ damage. Wearing a mask take some effort especially in hot weather…but does stop some germs from spreading. CJK, retired nurse

    • Theresa Marlowe on July 2, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      I 100% agree mask should be mandatory!! Since the Governor opened up our businesses I walk into certain stores and not one individual except myself were wearing mask plus they surely aren’t distancing at ALL!!! I am a senior citizen yet NO RESPECT IS GIVEN BY OTHERS!! I feel a ordinance should occur in Laurens SC.

      • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 9:02 pm

        Do you have asthma,copd or some other type of breathing problem?? BY ALL MEANS SMOTHER WITH THOSE OF US THAT DO HAVE DIFFICULTY BREATHING AND HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATIONS AND USE INHALORS FOR IT. There are certain kind of pillows I cant even lay my head on to go to sleep!! Go figure.

    • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      I commend every one in the health care profession,but they have to go to work every day!! Going to a store to buy things you need at home is not mandatory everyday,going to a restaurant everyday is not mandatory.I dont apologize for disagreeing but the GOOD LORD IS NOT GOING TO TAKE YOU IF HES NOT READY FOR YOU,and my friend I would be fearing HIM BEFORE ANY VIRUS OR LAW THAT THESE LAW MAKING ,VIRUS CREATING FOOLS MADE THAT HAS GOTTEN WAY OUTTA HAND.

  2. Tina on July 2, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    Would like to know if Laurens, SC is allowing Certain people to
    Exempt them from wearing masks for those who have Chronic diseases, such as Diabetes, Asthma, etc. ?
    Only due to risk of corbon monoxide?

    • Judith Brown on July 2, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      Tina, the news story explains that the city passed a “resolution,” which strongly encourages people to wear masks in public buildings. Without a large police force City Council felt it would not have been able to enforce an “ordinance” (which Is a law mandating it.) So it is not a mandate at this point.

      • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 9:11 pm

        Thank you!! At least I can go to the store when i NEED to without smothering.Thank you for air to breathe!!!

  3. Charles on July 3, 2020 at 5:43 am

    Being 4 months to late on a mask ordinance is like wearing a condom to a baby shower. Stay out of people faces and THEM out of yours and try washing your hands before you start chewing on your fingernails. Oh yeah, don’t let this distract you that Epstein didn’t kill himself and Maxwell has ALL the beans on what’s REALLY happening .

    • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 8:58 pm

      LOL YOU SAID IT BROTHER!! Common sense is like deoderant for so many folks.!! They all have it but dont know how and when to use it!!!!!

  4. Anne on July 3, 2020 at 8:05 am

    I think businesses should require wearing a mask to enter their store. This would be a tremendous help.

    • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 8:56 pm

      I believe people should start fearing JESUS CHRIST instead of listening to the GOD of EVIL,but then again thats a persons choice.

  5. Kimber Taylor on July 3, 2020 at 9:05 am

    I really hope this remains as only a resolution. Or that exemptions are given because I for one due to various health reasons cannot wear a mask but I also cannot afford to lose my job because I can’t wear one. This whole thing is causing me so much stress I’ve had to make an emergency dr appointment to refill my meds and my inhaler!

    • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      My heart goes out to you because I have asthma. The only solution I know to do is go stock up on what you need so you will only have to suffocate once a month.Last time I was in a store I thought I was goning to smother if I didnt get out of there.This is a cruel world we’re living in but it wont be the people that dont wear masks that kills another, the government is already trying!!And they have succceeded, while taking baby steps in getting total contol of every human being that will give it to them.Im not going to worry about it,Jesus Christ is coming soon and taking HIS children HOME!!

  6. Karen on July 12, 2020 at 10:14 am

    kinda useless to mandate it cuz there is no way it could be enforced.. it would take extra police and more administrative cost which I don’t believe could be approved.
    I’d rather have the law enforcement working on more important things than going around issuing citations for not wearing a mask.. some citizen calls 911 for armed intruder… sorry it will be a little while, all officers are mask shaming…. Get a grip Lauren’s Co. We are fixing to be taken over by Antifa, BLM, Black Militia, Anarchists, and the democratic party that wants a communists ran country.
    There is more at state here than wearing/not wearing a freaking mask. all this stuff going on is fear mongering and we are about to lose our country. we should be having meeting on how to take our country back. Are you ready to pay reparations, are you ready to have universal income for all, open borders for all immigrants, releasing vilolent prisoners, sanctuary cities, cutbacks in military, budget busting federal spending, another NAFTA sending our jobs overseas like Biden did previously, taking guns from us, dangerous abortion policies, voting rights to inmates, voting age changed to 16, abolishing the electoral college, making Washington DC a democratic state, Free college & healthcare for all paid by you, giving up what you own to be shared with everybody?? I could go on and on.. please educate yourself on what the dems are doing. do you want you city to look like Seattle and Portland.. BLM is financed by a convicted terrorist and ran by 3 Marxist. Bill Clinton commuted her sentence on the last day of office. Rudy Giuliani had her convicted for slaughtering 2 officers and a guard and was in possession of all sorts of bombs and bomb making items. She received a 58 yr sentence. you can Google it I wont put her name here. you can read up on her past .Please read up on BLM, Antifa, Socialism, Reparations and what the new Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, and Ilhan Abdullahi Omar… these ppl are lunatics and want to change our gov, they want a socialist to communist government and that’s not was America is made of.. why do ppl keep wanting to come to America, it’s to escape the same Gov that these ppl want us to have.. China wants to be the World Leader and they will take us over if the dems get in. I’m an independent I dont favor one side over the other unless I see warning signs, and it’s coming so be prepared and educate yourself on New World Order (NWO) do not get your info from the media.. they are not giving you facts… look this stuff up yourselves and read about it before voting in nov… I just live my country and dont want to see it like it is now.

    • Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      ALL THE RESEARCH A PERSON HAS TO DO CAN BE FOUND IN THE KING JAMES VERSION BIBLE. IT IS THE ONLY INSTRUCTION BOOK ON EVERY HUMAN BEINGS LIFE!!!! IM NOT GIVING IN AND SELLING MY SOUL FOR THE DEVIL THE GOD OF MONEY WHICH IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.I SINCERELY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT I JUST SAID.IF NOT,GET YOURSELF A KJV BIBLE ,THE INSTRUCTION BOOK ON LIFE AND READ IT FOR YOURSELF. JESUS SAVES AND HE STILL DOES!!

  7. Pamela on July 30, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    I honestly feel sorry for the people who have asthma,copd and other respiratory problems as I do.Its a shame that a person that has that health condition cannot even go in a store or public place without a mask and smothering the whole time theyre in there.I agree with the social distancing,anyone with good commom sense know not to get in other peoples faces.But then again alot of folks dont have good common sense.A mask is the least of anyones worries,this country is in a mess!!! Why didnt we all have to wear masks before even going out into our yards?? What about all these poisons all of these airplanes have been spraying over all over us leaving the chemtrails to prove what theyre doing? Let me tell you something it wont be the persons fault that cannot breathe for having asthma,or other breathing problems that have difficulty covering their faces!! Blame the idiots tha “man made” this virus!!!! You all know who is responsible for it!!! All I know is I for one believe in Jesus Christ, and Hes not going to take anyone who Hes not ready for. Think about the food we eat!!! The “genetic food” these demons are processing and putting on the shelves in stores.A food that is not good for you but makes you immortall!!! Well these so called laws that are being passed and the main one ,”the NEW WORLD ORDER” that the government is taking baby steps in gaining total control over everyone,making it difficult to survive in this country,controlling every move we make,how much is spent,and even making people take a chip in their hand or mark on their forehead just to be able to buy or sell,even down to buy a snack from the vending machine at their place of employment ,all of this is nothing more than the work of the devil and the devil will not get me.Theres not one human being here I will willingfully sell my soul for, and that is a promise I have made to myself and to the GOD that created this world we live in.These so called law makers around here dont know everything except THEIR laws and their rules,and they make them as they go along.I pray that all you lonely lost souls give your lives to the God our Father, not the god on the dollar bill or the change you carry around in your purse or pocket.That little g-o-d word on that is the god of evil and MONEY is the root of all evil !!!!!! I barely have the evil to pay my bills but that is enough for me.I have always said I was born too late,I would have not have any problem growing my own food and cooking over an open fire.I can say one thing to that,if people had to work like that to survive,stay home and raise their children responsibly,and to have respect,a big part of whats going on in the USA would not be happening.The god of evil has made everything a CONVENIENCE for people and theres folks out here thats going to sell their souls to keep that convenience.Because I know this, Im going to pray much harder to our maker,the Creator of this world that the gov. are totally destroying, that every human being that do not know CHRIST already,will find HIM and DEDICATE their lives to HIM. Jesus Christ is my everything, and HE will see me through !! How about you?

Leave a Comment