In a 3-2 vote, the Sedgwick County Commission voted to rescind the current health order.

This means there is no longer a county order requiring masks or social distancing in public. Gathering limits for businesses had already been lifted.

Businesses can still require masks and social distancing, and Wichita could put its own mask order in place.

This change was made because of a rework of emergency powers in Kansas under Senate Bill 40. This takes some powers away from the Governor and unelected health officers. Elected county commissions would have the ability to put new health orders in place, but SB40 makes it easier for people to challenge county orders in court. Speaking during Wednesday’s Sedgwick County Commission meeting, Chairman Pete Meitzner indicated he had been made aware of people who had lawsuits ready to go as soon as SB40 becomes law, which is expected to happen some time next week.

The Sedgwick County Commission is also pushing to move into Phase 5 of the state’s vaccination phase. County leaders say doses are available and appointments are open, but people who want the shots can’t get them because they’re not in the current phase. Commissioners are reaching out to the state for guidance and will revisit the issue Friday.