BROOKINGS, S.D. (KJJQ) – The Brookings City Council passes a 60-day extension of the current pandemic restrictions that include a mask mandate and capacity restrictions on some businesses including bars and restaurants.

Those measures were set to expire at the end of the month.

SDSU Epidemiologist Bonny Specker says, of the 10 most populous counties in the state, those with a mask mandate are seeing a bigger drop in case numbers.

She says Brookings County has had the lowest number of cases by population of any of the ten communities since Nov. 19.

Representatives of Brookings Health, Avera and Sanford all recommended continuing with the mask mandate.

Brookings School Superintendent Klint Willert encouraged the council to continue the mandate.

Only two people supplied comments from the audience — one opposed, one in favor. Dr. David Meyer spoke in favor.

The vote to extend the mandate was 5-2.