Faced with surging COVID-19 infections and calls for local government action, the Fort Dodge City Council will consider requiring people to wear masks in public places when it meets this evening.

In addition to requring people to wear masks, the resolution before the council prohibits businesses from serving customers who are not wearing masks.

The measure does not include any fines, penalties or enforcement provisions.

The resolution states a a person must wear a face covering in these situations:

• In public, as opposed to one’s place of residence, when one cannot stay six feet apart from others.

•Inside any public settings, including, but not limited to grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, common areas of businesses that are accessible to the public and where six feet of social distancing is not possible.

• Other public settings that are not one’s place of residence and when among other people who do not live in the same household.

•City buildings.

• Outside if maintaining a distance of six feet apart is not possible.

∫Using public transportation or private car services including taxis, ride share or carpooling.

“No business that is open to the public may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter its premises, unless the customer is wearing a face covering as required by this resolution, and businesses that are open to the public are encouraged to post notice signs at the entrances instructing customers of their obligations to wear a face covering while inside,” the resolution states.

Exemptions to the mask mandate are included for children younger than 3 and people with various medical conditions. People who are running, exercising or participating in sports would also be exempt.

If approved by the council, the mask mandate would be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 1, 2021.

During the Nov. 9 council meeting, a proclamation was issued encouraging, but not requiring, people to wear masks.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. today. Because of the pandemic that prompted the proposed mask mandate resolution, the meeting will be a virtual one. People can observe and participate in the meeting by going to zoom.us and entering webinar ID 816 045 072 and passcode 948411.

People can also participate in the meeting by calling (312) 626-6799.