Mask order back in place for courts

A mandatory mask order starts Thursday for the 36th Judicial Circuit, according to information announced Wednesday, when Butler County also marked 183 new COVID-19 cases.

The Butler County Health Department staff also announced two new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total to 52.

There are currently 204 active cases in the county compared to 158 last week. There have been 5,218 cases county-wide since the beginning of the pandemic.

The mask order for the 36th Judicial Circuit, includes Butler and Ripley counties’ courts as well as Poplar Bluff Municipal Court.

Presiding Circuit Judge Michael M. Pritchett made the announcement.

In the press release, Pritchett said, the mask order is “in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the United States has declared a specific Variant of Concern, identified as the Delta Variant, as a ‘Pandemic of the Unvaccinated;’ and all COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are reported to be effective at preventing COVID-19, help protect people from getting sick or severely ill and might also help protect people around the vaccinated person.”

Despite the vaccines being available, Pritchett said, “certain parts of the country have very low rates of vaccination in the population, and as a result, the immunity offered has been less effective at slowing the rate of COVID-19 infection.”

Quoting the Centers for Disease Control’s published guidelines for fully vaccinated people, his release said, “to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.”

Pritchett pointed out that of the 114 counties and one independent city in Missouri, 112 counties have been identified as areas of “substantial or high transmission,” and Butler County and Ripley counties have also been identified as areas of “high transmission.”

The judge’s order stated all persons admitted to the public areas of the Butler County and Ripley County court facilities or the Butler County juvenile facility will be required to wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose.

All persons in the private areas of the Butler County and Ripley County court facilities or the Butler County juvenile facility shall continue to follow the CDC recommendation of no face covering necessary for persons that have been vaccinated; face covering is required of all persons not vaccinated; and all persons observe three-feet spacing whenever possible.

In order to preserve and enhance the ability to communicate, judges are accorded the prerogative to relieve the masking requirement for all lawyers, litigants or other persons when those persons are speaking in court, the release stated.

Judges, court staff, attorneys and parties are still encouraged to use all available technologies – including teleconferencing and video conferencing – whenever possible to limit in-person courtroom appearances to the extent practical and not prohibited by constitutional or statutory provisions.

Judicial employees will be subject to quarantine based on various circumstances.

The order will remain in effect until rescinded or superseded by a subsequent court order.

“It is hoped and anticipated both national and community circumstances will improve,” Pritchett said. “Depending on the community circumstances, and the then current guidance from the CDC, this Court will amend this order as appropriate.”

While Pritchett is counting on masks helping to protect those in court, BCHD Administer Emily Goodin is striving to provide vaccines to those who need them.

Goodin said, “The after hours clinic went well. We will be hosting an after hours clinic the first Tuesday of the month to go along with our Friday clinics. Also, starting this month, we will be offering Pfizer to 12-18 year olds by appointment only.”

Goodin explained while the Butler County Health Department offers Moderna and appointments can be made, the staff accepts walk-ins for the Moderna vaccine from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays.

Goodin reminded everyone registering through local health departments, the Missouri Vaccine Navigator or contacting the Missouri COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 can help Missourians identify and sign up for available appointments in their area.

Scheduled rapid testing will be done every Wednesday by appointment only in Butler County. To schedule a test, go to www.butlercountyhealth.org/. Look for “Vaccine Registration & Coronavirus Info” and click the “Book Now” icon, or call 877-435-8411 to set up an appointment.

For any questions, contact the county health department at 573-785-8478.