On Monday, Aug. 30, Merrill Mayor Derek Woellner issued an order requiring masks be worn in all City of Merrill facilities for four weeks, until Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. This order applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Woellner cited “the most recent Lincoln County Health Department Weekly COVID-19 update” which reported:
“In the last month, Lincoln County has seen:
-Very high disease activity level
-Steady increase of positive cases
-34% of COVID-19 tests were positive this week
-Viral load is higher; resulting in more symptoms and faster spread throughout the home, gatherings, and worksites
-18.5% (27/146) of cases have been vaccine breakthrough cases
-10 hospitalizations; those individuals were in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 70s, and 90s; 1 individual has been vaccinated
-3 new deaths; those individuals were in their 60s and 70s; all unvaccinated.”
“According to the County Health Department, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask,” Woellner’s written declaration said. “Reversing their initial policy, the CDC now recommends that even fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors.”