Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas urged the city council to remove the city-wide COVID restrictions, with the exception of opening nightclubs and event centers, this week during the open board meeting. But her motion failed with a lack of a second.
Although the city council increased the amount allowed to gather to 30 people, Thomas said it’s time to lift the restrictions. She said she feels the restrictions are simply an attempt to keep the nightclubs and event centers closed at the expense of others.
“Is this ordinance in place to keep the clubs and entertainment areas closed,” Thomas asked. “I am sure all of you have been in different stores over the last three weeks, and you see no one is wearing a mask. We are just holding them to their throats. Somewhere down the line you are going to have to let them breathe.”
Thomas said citizens of Yazoo City continue to travel to other communities that have relaxed their COVID-related restrictions.
“They are still bringing it (potential COVID) back to us,” she continued. “We need to relax this some. We are punishing people who are doing right.”
Alderman Ron Johnson said he would feel better about lifting the COVID restrictions if the vaccination rate was higher.
“At some point we are going to have to open the city wide open,” Johnson said. “But COVID is still real.”
Alderman Andre Lloyd agreed that the city of Yazoo City could “open back up” if the vaccination rate increased.
The Yazoo Herald has spoken with several citizens who had concerns that the vaccination rate for Yazoo County is not accurate. Many said they went to other counties to get vaccinations that were not readily available within the local community. In those other counties, the majority said they were never asked where they lived, adding to the concern that the local vaccination rate is not accurate.
Thomas then made the motion to ease the COVID restrictions with the exception of nightclubs and event centers “to give the people of Yazoo City the opportunity to reclaim some of their lives.”
However, Thomas’ motion died for a lack of a second.
“I know y’all just don’t want the clubs opened,” Thomas concluded.
