The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department issued a mandate for face coverings, or masks, for the remainder of 2020, during a Zoom meeting, Friday.
Effective, 12:01 a.m.,, November 14, 2020, all businesses, organizations, or venues open to usuage by members of the public in Madison County, Tennessee shall require the use of face coverings or masks by their employees and members of the public, except for children under the age of 2, while inside their premises in areas accessible by the public.
“Based on the numbers coming in, and the spike growing – not just in Madison County – but in surrounding counties in West Tennessee,” said Kim Tedford, Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department director, “We wanted to let the public know we are issuing a mask mandate, we have the ability to stop the mask mandate if we see improvement in the numbers We cannot continue at this rate going into the holiday season.”
The numbers – or cases – has seen an upward trend this week.
This week alone, the Health Deparment reported 97 cases Monday, 67, Tuesday, 50, Wednesday, 46, Thursday, and 151, today.
As recent as Monday, officials with West Tennessee Healthcare said new COVID-19 cases were growing at ‘an unprecedented rate,’ and healthcare workers urged community members to refocus on adopting safe behaviors and improving the overall health and wellbeing of Tennessee friends and neighbors.
“We were able to keep the spread of the virus under control and saw a decrease in average new daily cases and a decrease in average daily hospitalizations from early August to mid-September,” states Amy Garner, Public Information Officer for West Tennessee Healthcare. “However, something has changed in the last four weeks and, if the trend continues, we are at risk of losing all ground we have held against the COVID-19.”
Since early October, nearly every region in our state has seen a rise in hospitalizations – upwards of 50 percent statewide. According to a study released last week by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, this increase has been more significant in hospitals that treat patients in areas without mask requirements. West Tennessee Healthcare is preparing for this continued increase and is urging community members to wear a mask.
The order does not require businesses, organizations, or venues to supply face coverings or masks to members of the public.
Use of face coverings or masks shall not be required by members of the public while seated for the purpose of dining in any restaurant or business that provides food and/or drink for on premises consumption.
Violation of this order subjects the operator of the business, organization, or venue punishable by the laws of the State of Tennessee.
This order shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Dec. 29, 2020, unless otherwise modified or withdrawn by future Orders of the Jackson-Madison County Health Department.
There will be no penalties, tickets or citations issued for those who do not wear a mask.
Call the Jackson-Madison County COVID-19 Public Information Line at 731-240-1771 for more information.
Find more information about COVID-19 from the Tennessee Department of Health at https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated information and guidance available online at www.cdc.gov/COVID19.
(PHOTO: Health Department issues mask mandate issued during Zoom meeting, Friday)
