(Radio Iowa) – The Johnson County Board of Health is advancing a plan to mandate the use of face coverings countywide. After approving the wording of the potential order at a meeting Tuesday night, the board will take public comment and then vote on the measure Monday. Board chair Peter Wallace says he’s eager to act before thousands of University of Iowa students return to Iowa City for the start of classes on August 24th. “Hopefully people would know and have a couple weeks to get used to the ordinance, if they live here,” Wallace says, “and the university would make the necessary changes if they have to, but at least accommodations.”

Wallace says the county would need to work with the U-I on implementation of the new rules.  “One thing that we’re going to have to do if this ordinance passes is to sit down with our friends at the university and ask them what kind of enforcement are they expecting of their students,” he says.

While the governor has said local mask orders are not legal, the county attorney believes the mandate would be enforceable if also passed by the board of supervisors. Several other local Iowa governments have passed ordinances requiring masks in city or county buildings or on city buses, including: Ames, Des Moines, Iowa City, Muscatine, Sioux City, Polk County and Clinton County.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)