MARQUETTE, MI— While a mask mandate for pre-kindergarten through 6th-grade students in Marquette County was rescinded this week, members of the county Board of Health say that doesn’t mean masks aren’t effective at curbing the transmission of COVID-19.
Health Officer Jerry Messana lifted the order, effective Wednesday. He said the mandate was originally focused on 5- to 11-year-olds because, at the time, that age group was not eligible to receive the vaccine. The vaccine has been available for younger children for nearly three months now, allowing that population to get the shot. He noted about 32 percent of 5- to 11-year-old children in Marquette County have been vaccinated, and appointments are readily available.
Messana said the majority of severe coronavirus cases are not found in the younger population.
At a meeting of the Marquette County Board of Health Wednesday night, board member Nina Van den Ende cautioned parents against tossing their kids’ masks.
“Number one I want to make sure that the public is aware that, because we’ve rescinded the mask mandate, in no way are we saying that masks do not work.”
Some residents expressed their appreciation for the revocation of the mask mandate at the meeting; others wondered why it was done now, when COVID case numbers in the county remain high.
Messana urged parents to get their pre-kindergarten through 6th-grade students vaccinated. He said vaccines remain the best defense against COVID.
