WICHITA – Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed a new emergency public health order which will take effect Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. The order will remain in place until at least midnight, Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

“It takes some of the ambiguity out of the enforcement provisions,” said attorney Dan Monnat.

Over the weekend, several bars in the area broke curfew.

Section III of this order was revised to clarify that the order is mandatory.  Any persons or organizations within the county must comply with the order.

“Compliance is mandatory and failure to comply may now be enforced by criminal charges and such regulatory or licensing penalties,” Monnat added.

“We believe that that was a lawful order all along and they were trying to find some way to that they could stay open and I understand that completely,” added County Commissioner David Dennis.

The county said Dr. Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction.

“We need to talk to Dr. Minns also to make sure what the intention is for closing at 11 o’clock,” Dennis said.

See full story at KSN.com