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AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE MAYOR EXERCISE HER EXECUTIVE POWERS TO SAFEGUARD THE COMMUNITY AS NEEDED DURING THE COVID-19 COMMUNITY HEALTH CRISIS AND ISSUE PUBLIC HEALTH MANDATES AS NEEDED BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND OTHER HEALTH OFFICIALS.
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BY COUNCILOR RANDORF AND COUNCILOR MEDVED:
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has constituted a public health emergency since March of 2020; and
WHEREAS, on July 13, 2020, the council enacted emergency Ordinance 10708 requiring face coverings in indoor spaces of public accommodation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on May 24, 2021, the council repealed the face covering mandate based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) advice that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face covering in any setting; and
WHEREAS, since the repeal of the face covering mandate, the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variants have been determined by the CDC to be highly transmissible and responsible for increasing the potential risk of infection and spread of the virus through the community; and
WHEREAS, positive test rates for COVID-19 in Minnesota are currently nearly 13 percent, more than twice the five percent level health officials find concerning; and
WHEREAS, Duluth children and citizens with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable to hospitalization due to COVID-19.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority of Section 11 of the Duluth City Charter, 1959, as amended, (the “Charter”) in order for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety of the citizen of the city of Duluth, an emergency is hereby declared.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that due to the COVID-19 health emergency the council requests that the mayor exercise her executive powers to safeguard the community by issuing appropriate health mandates as needed based on public health data and in partnership with St. Louis County and other health officials.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This is an emergency resolution request that the mayor exercise her executive powers to safeguard the community by issuing appropriate health mandates in response to the COVID-19 emergency.
This resolution must be voted on in two parts. Prior to voting on the resolution as a whole, all members of the council must vote in the affirmative on the first resolved clause declaring an emergency. If an emergency is declared, the council may then vote to affirm the entire resolution.