Columbus mayor suspends COVID mask mandate. What residents need to know
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson has suspended the city’s mask mandate, with some exceptions, as coronavirus cases continue declining in the city.
The suspension will go into effect at noon Thursday. The announcement comes after the number of COVID-19 cases dropped below Gov. Brian Kemp’s threshold requirement of 100 cases per 100,000 people, according to a news release from Henderson’s office.
Despite this suspension, anyone entering buildings owned by the Consolidated Government of Columbus or designated courtrooms are required to wear face coverings.
Those who are not vaccinated are asked to still wear masks in situations where they cannot social distance, according to the release.
Henderson also encouraged all Columbus business owners and customers to continue following the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations on social distancing.
The Georgia Department of Health reports that there were 92 reported cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people over the last two weeks in Muscogee County, as of Wednesday’s data.
In many cases, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or socially distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplaces, according to the CDC’s newest recommendations. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports.
Henderson previously told the Ledger-Enquirer that he will propose repealing the ordinance if Columbus stays under the current mask threshold.
This story was originally published May 19, 2021 at 10:51 AM.
