CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett extended the county's mask mandate by signed Emergency Order #24.
The mandate goes into effect Dec. 11 and will expire at midnight on Dec. 29.
The order also includes a public health emergency declaration. According to the order, all residents must wear a face covering while in public or when social distancing isn't available.
The order also requires any business open to the public to post a sign, which can be found on the Montgomery County website, requiring masks on all public entrances.
Governor Lee’s Executive Order #63 gives county mayors the authority to issue emergency orders regarding mask mandates.
Exceptions for wearing face-coverings include the following as outlined in Governor Lee’s Executive Order #54:
- Within one's residence or automobile, unless transporting others for hire;
- By a child twelve (12) years of age or younger;
- By someone who has trouble breathing due to an underlying health condition or another bona fide medical or health-related reason for not wearing a face-covering;
- By someone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face-covering without assistance;
- While eating or drinking;
- While outdoors, unless the person cannot substantially maintain appropriate social distancing from others outside of the person's household;
- While working under conditions where appropriate social distancing from others outside of the person's household is substantially maintained;
- In situations in which wearing a face-covering poses a safety or security risk;
- While in a house of worship unless required by that house of worship, but wearing a face-covering in such locations is strongly encouraged; or
- While in a voting site for the purpose of voting or administering an election, but wearing a face-covering in such locations is strongly encouraged.
