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Attendees who packed a recent city council meeting in Independence, Missouri, which included a debate on masks, may have been exposed to Covid-19, health officials said.
The city’s health and animal services department said Monday that at least one person in the August 16 meeting tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Everyone at this meeting who was in the hemicycle was likely exposed and should get tested, especially if they are showing symptoms of Covid-19,” the health department said in a statement.
The meeting drew a large crowd of mostly maskless, according to photos and video shared by reporter Nick Starling with NBC affiliate KSHB. During the meeting, many people spoke out against a mask mandate for the city, citing freedoms and personal choice.
The board voted 4-2 not to implement the mandate. Had the order been approved, masks would have been required indoors when people from separate households were in the same room, according to KSHB.
Masks were also reportedly required for outdoor gatherings with more than 100 people in attendance.
Independence, about 10 miles east of Kansas City, recently imposed – then quickly dropped – mask warrants. In late July, the city implemented a mask warrant that required people to wear masks inside city buildings.
KSHB reported that the warrant went into effect on July 29, but on August 3, Mayor Eileen Weir reversed it and said masks were not required in city buildings.
“After careful consideration, we revoke the public health decree and return to the public health opinion, which strongly encourages masks in all indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status,” said the mayor.
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