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Colorado Springs City Council delay mask ordinance vote as protesters gather outside

mask-free protest Cropped

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in El Paso County continues to rise, and Colorado Springs City Councilmembers are weighing whether or not to introduce a mandatory mask ordinance.

But some residents in the Springs have expressed that they're against being told to wear a mask, even despite evidence showing that mask-wearing can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The request for a mandate came from local business leaders, including Dirk Draper, president of Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, who says the rise in cases and the lack of mask-wearing inside their stores have brought concern.

"We've heard anecdotes of situations where store proprietors or their employees have approached customers and asked them to comply with health practices, to wear a face mask in their premises and they refuse to do so," Draper explained.

On Thursday, El Paso County saw 124 new positive cases of COVID-19, marking the biggest single-day increase since testing began in the county back in March. The number of new cases did drop over the weekend, but the overall trend has been an increase in the last month.

Council members hosted a work session Monday to hear more information on the impacts that a mandatory mask ordinance would have on the city.

Meanwhile, a small group of protesters gathered outside of City Hall and held signs saying they were against being ordered to wear a mask.

"They keep saying it's for the protection of others, well I'm not sick, prove I'm sick first before you force me to wear a mask," explained Mark James, a protestor against a mask-mandate.

Ultimately, city council decided to delay their decision on the mask-mandate.

"Engaging in a mandatory mask ordinance without the health department saying this is what we need doesn't make any sense at all," said Councilmember Wayne Williams representing Colorado Springs at-large.

He said the penalties currently listed in the ordinance are too great for the offense. In the proposed ordinance, anyone in violation could be facing a "general penalty."

"First offense could result in $2500 dollars and 189 days in jail. Those are more severe than the penalty for driving drunk and so they were way out of proportion," Williams explained.

The El Paso County Health Department is scheduled to speak before commissioners tomorrow and present their latests findings. Should they recommend a mask-mandate, council says they are prepared to schedule an emergency meeting and revisit the issue.

Otherwise, the discussion will continue in two weeks during their next regular session.

Article Topic Follows: Colorado Springs

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