The Madison County Health Advisory Committee expressed concerns about the Board of Health’s non-binding resolution regarding masks in schools, sparking a heated debate during the Health Department Committee meeting.
“The advisory committee expressed concern that the health board did not seek medical information or advice from the committee on this topic,” Dr. Raymond Weber said at the Aug. 6 Health Department Committee meeting.
The Advisory Committee is made up of Weber, Morris Kugler, M.D., Rebecca Dunn Bradley, D.M.D., Jean Schram, MA, Paul Hoover, D.C, Dorothy Droste, RN, BSN, David Yablonsky, DO Loren Hughes, M.D., Paul Malcharek, M.D., and Laura Deluca, RN.
“The members of the Health Department Advisory Committee directed me to express to you the willingness and availability to provide current medical information and advice to the Health Board on all matters pertaining to the public health of the people of Madison County,” Weber added.
One of the board members responded that the subject was moot after Gov. J.B. Pritzker mandated masks in all schools.
Madison County board members voted 18-10 on July 21 to approve the resolution encouraging local school districts to allow parents to choose whether their children should wear masks in school. The resolution was a recommendation but had no legal authority.
During the Health Department Committee meeting, Madison County Health Director Toni Corona explained that the board members on the Health Board and the Health Department Committee are not necessarily experts in the medical field, which is why the Advisory Committee was formed. She added that the medical professionals on the Advisory Committee are available for consultation or to provide information.
In a heated exchange, some committee members said they were caught off-guard by Weber’s statement. They added that they didn’t know they had access to the ten medical professionals on the Advisory Committee.
“If you want government to work, you gotta work together,” said committee member Mike Walters.
Committee chairman Mike Babcock said he was surprised by the information and that Corona should have told them about the Advisory Committee.
“I have worked for 20 months, my staff have worked for 20 months on this outbreak,” Corona said. “You have to understand, I’m tired.”
The board members thanked her for her and her staff’s hard work in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corona provided a brief report on the pandemic, saying they are finding out more about COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. She said those who are fully vaccinated are still capable of transmitting the Delta variant, which is why masks have been mandated for schools.
“This new variant is more capable,” Corona said. “It’s much, much more contagious.”
She added that the majority of those hospitalized are unvaccinated.
Walters asked for pediatric COVID-19 data, including deaths. Corona responded that there are no pediatric hospitals in Madison County but said more kids are being hospitalized than before. Walters said more kids are hospitalized and suffer fatal injuries from other illnesses every year than from COVID-19. He asked why masks are mandated for COVID-19 when they weren’t for other illnesses.
Weber responded that they cannot risk more outbreaks and transmission.
“They just keep moving the end zone,” Walters said.
He said there will be different COVID variants every year.
“Do we wear masks for the rest of our lives?” Walters asked.
Babcock also asked why doctors haven’t set a treatment regimen in place immediately after someone is diagnosed with COVID-19.
“You can’t just cook this up overnight,” Weber responded.