MANDATE: Legislators fail safety test

Most of our local legislators recently signed a letter asking the Panhandle Health District Board of Directors to remove the mandate regarding wearing a mask in Kootenai County when indoors in the company of others. The legislators’ reasoning was that because too many people were not honoring the request of the PHD, the district should not make them break a law that was unenforceable. They added that people should not have to follow a law passed by an unelected body and alleged that the law infringes on personal freedom.

The PHD has a duty to protect the general health and safety of the people living in their jurisdiction. The medical community knows that all of us are at risk: The medical workers who care for those who have the disease can easily be affected and overwhelmed by the numbers. People are dying; others are being harmed permanently.

Cooperation by the members of the community to socially distance, wear a mask, wash your hands shows concern for the entire community. It’s clear that the legislators should have supported the decision of the board, praised them for their proper action and highlighted why people must follow the mandate. Sadly, they didn’t have the courage to do that. That’s not good government. That’s not the way to protect the people of Kootenai County in this pandemic nor the way to pave the return to normalcy.

SUZANNE POLLE

Hayden