Aug 07, 2020

Baldetti: Lean into mitigation measures, even as we wait on data

Posted Aug 07, 2020 2:07 PM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti said Friday it is still too early to tell if mask wearing specifically is working in the county, but mitigation measures more generally are working.

"We're certainly going in the right direction," Baldetti said. "This week would really be the beginning in terms of the lag in the testing data and the positive case rates and symptom onset data. It does suggest that, I would say if this trend continues into next week or even falls lower that I would feel comfortable saying that the mask use seems to be representing itself in the data."

Whether the numbers immediately get better or not, Baldetti's message hasn't changed.

"It's an inverse relationship, in that, as numbers get better, we should lean further into those mitigating strategies to make sure that we continue that way, to try and have as long of a normal fall as possible with kids being in school," Baldetti said.

Schools across the county are choosing different opening dates based on their ability to train staff and obtain personal protective equipment.