Starting on Monday, anyone with business at the Hamilton County Courthouse will be required to wear a face covering before entering the building, following an announcement by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.

The requirement relates to both the public and staff members in the public areas of the courthouse.

Officials have recommended masks for several months as a way of slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The courthouse currently requires area residents to make appointments to visit the county offices. When they arrive at the courthouse, area residents call the office where the appointment was set and staff members then will let them into the building. There is also a doorbell at the lower level entrance.

Board Chairman Doug Bailey said that the auditor’s office has a supply of masks available if area residents forget or do not have a mask to wear while at the courthouse.

“I think most of the people who are making appointments are complying with it,” said Supervisor Dan Campidilli. “There’s a few that aren’t, but for the most part, people have been really good about it.”

Bailey also read a COVID-19 update from Shelby Kroona, Hamilton County Public Health director, who was not present at the meeting.

In an email, Kroona told Bailey the 14-day testing positivity rate had climbed to 5.7 percent as of Sunday. He added that positive cases had been reported at both Northeast Hamilton and South Hamilton schools.

Kroona’s report also stated that Hy-Vee will start drive-through testing for COVID-19 soon. The service will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and Saturday’s 8 to 10 a.m.

“This is not the rapid test. It will take a few days to get the results back,” he said. “People will need to schedule through an app to get an appointment.”

Bailey did not have a start date for the service.

“I would encourage people to comply with the contact tracing going on,” he said. “No doubt as the positivity rate goes up, the amount of contact tracing will likely also be going up.”