The Springfield City Council will be meeting tonight to vote on whether or not to mandate the wearing of face masks in most public situations. The news has caused some controversy, with the Reopen Springfield Now group saying they will stand outside City Hall to protest the decision.

Over 1oo people have signed up to speak tonight — most of them on the ordinance.

Springfield-Greene County Health Department officials say that with virus growing as it is, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep track of cases.

“It’s not a perfect tool, but we believe in using every tool available to us to combat the virus,” said Assistant Springfield-Greene County Health Director Katie Towns in a speech on Monday, “and [it will help] prevent us from going backwards as multiple cities across the country are.”

The new mandate would be included in a Springfield ordinance set to take effect after midnight Wednesday. It would not affect times while eating or swimming in public, and would not be required for children under the age of 12. Persons with disabilities preventing them from properly communicating with the mask or from taking off the mask themselves would not be required to wear the mask at all times.

Other exceptions for specific situations are included, such as when exercising, or when only near people in one’s own household.

A fine of $100 would be imposed on anyone breaking the ordinance.

Those protesting the ordinance say it is not something they should be forced to do.

“The new norm is frightening to me,” said Reopen Springfield Now organizer Melanie Taylor in an interview with KY3, “and I don’t want to–I don’t want to live like that.”

Taylor says she feels that politicians have moved too quickly and haven’t given the people a chance to vote.

Medical professionals weighing in on the debate say face masks would greatly help in reducing the spread of the virus.

“If we could use it across society, even if it reduced  the burden of disease by 50% it would be a huge impact,” said Dr. Robin Trotman with Coxhealth.

Trotman echoes the sentiments expressed by other medical professionals recently, as physician and head of the Infectious Disease Specialty Council at Mercy Dr. William Sistrunk said in a press conference put together by the Health Department, “Our desire to return to a more normal life is leading to more COVID infections. […] There are asymptomatic people in the community who can spread COVID infection. […] If we work together as a community, as a team, we can reduce the risk to our community.”

The Springfield City Council will also consider a proposal to give around 2 million dollars to the Public Health Fund in order to allow the Springfield-Greene County Health Department to hire more staff to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.