Columbus mayor reinstating mask mandate due to rising COVID-19 cases

Face masks are once again required in public in Columbus.

Columbus’ mask mandate will be reinstated effective Friday, November 20, Mayor Skip Henderson announced Thursday in a press release.

Muscogee County has had more than 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the previous 14 days. Having a case rate above this number is required to instate a mask mandate, according to Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order. The case rate in Muscogee County is 132 cases per 100,000 people as of November 19.

“You can almost see where we discontinued it because it immediately began a very, very slight increase,” Henderson told the Ledger-Enquirer. “...We need to make sure we’re doing all we can to keep this from getting ratcheted up into a full-blown second surge.”

The mask mandate will go into effect at noon Friday. The mask mandate had previously been suspended October 22 when the city’s case rate had fallen below 100 cases per 100k people for the previous 14 consecutive days. Henderson first issued the mask mandate August 21 when the case rate was 332 cases per 100,000 people. Experts and officials widely endorsed the mask mandate as an effective tactic in lowering COVID-19 case rates.

Henderson said he hopes that reinstating the mask mandate will encourage people to take CDC recommendations more seriously going into the holiday season. Experts are predicting a spike in cases as folks gather for the holidays during the colder months.

“(People) need to focus on the fact that we are a lot closer to the end than we are to the beginning. I know people are frustrated, I get frustrated,” Henderson said. “But there are still some things that we need to do if we want to be able to get through this without significant health implications and significant financial implications.”

When and where do residents have to wear a mask?

A facial covering or mask is required in any public place, private business, establishment, or corporation. The mask should be worn over the mouth and nose at all times whenever it is difficult to maintain six feet of social distance between people. Masks are not required in a personal vehicle or residence.

Violating the mask mandate holds a $50 civil fine.

“This is absolutely not an infringement of people’s rights or a political statement,” Henderson said. “This has everything to do with protecting people medically and protecting businesses financially.”

The Mayor’s Office continues to receive complaints from residents who say they refuse to wear a mask. Many of these callers say the mask mandate is an infringement of their bodily rights or a politically-motivated measure.

“It seems to me that it’s a fairly small price to pay and try to make sure that our residents stay healthy,” Henderson said.

Masks are required in public except for in the following cases:

• In personal vehicles or upon residential property.

• When a person is alone in enclosed spaces or only with other household members.

• When the individual has a bonafide religious objection to wearing a facial covering or mask.

• While drinking or eating.

• When a licensed healthcare provider has determined that wearing a fiscal covering or mask aggravates a health condition for the individual or when such a person has a bonafide medical reason for not wearing a facial covering or mask.

• When wearing a facial covering or mask would prevent the receipt of personal services or performing work in the course of employment.

• When complying with the directions of a law enforcement officer or for the purposes of verifying a person’s identity, such as when purchasing alcohol, tobacco, or prescriptions drugs or when engaging in a financial transaction.

• Children under the age of the 10 years old.

• When the individual is having difficultly donning or removing a face mask or covering without assistance.

• No individual shall be denied entry or exit to or from a polling place for failure to wear a facial covering or mask.

• When outdoors and maintaining social distancing from anyone other than individuals which whom they co-habitate.

• In the case of a business or entity that chooses not to consent to the enforcement of the order upon its property.

Read the Mayor’s full press release here:

This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 4:02 PM.