Although the state mask requirement expired Wednesday night, the mask mandate in the Golden Triangle will stay.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves ended a statewide mask mandate Wednesday, but said he will still require people to wear face coverings in schools to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“We should not use the heavy hand of government more than it is justified,” Reeves said at a news conference. “We have to tailor our actions to the current threat, and make sure that they do not go beyond what is reasonable.”
However, mayors in the Golden Triangle have issued statements that the local mandates will remain in place.
In a Wednesday night statement, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith said he will extend the mask requirement, especially considering the number of COVID-19 cases in Lowndes County. The mandate has been in effect since March 21.
“Unfortunately, the Lowndes County number of COVID-19 cases are not going down. They are increasing,” Smith said. “Therefore, I am extending our order to continue to wear masks as before, including businesses.”
The number of cases rose in Lowndes County despite the downturn in the number of cases statewide, although experts say the local spike may be due to untimely reporting, The Dispatch reported. As of Tuesday afternoon, Lowndes County had witnessed 1,608 cases and 58 deaths. Oktibbeha County had 1,819 cases and 52 deaths, and Clay County saw 599 cases and 19 deaths.
Smith added that Starkville, West Point and Tupelo will also extend their requirements.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill tweeted Wednesday afternoon that Starkville will not lift its requirement for people to wear masks in businesses and public buildings.
“Our requirement was in place prior to the Governor’s statewide order and remains in place,” she said.
West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson confirmed with The Dispatch Thursday morning the mask ordinance in the city remains in place.
“I certainly want it to be continued indefinitely,” he said. “I think masks work.”
The mask mandates in Tupelo and Meridian are also still in effect.
Mississippi’s statewide mask mandate has been in place since Aug. 4. Reeves, a Republican, has chosen to extend the mandate several times since then. However, on Wednesday, he said the declining number of confirmed virus cases and hospitalizations are positive developments that call for the lifting of some restrictions.
“We’ve cut our average number of new cases in half. We’ve cut our hospitalizations by two-thirds of what they once were,” Reeves said. “We know that it was a very turbulent summer, but we have come out on the other side.”
The new executive order ending the statewide mask mandate, effective Wednesday at 5 p.m. and expiring Nov. 11 — after the presidential election — also limits group gatherings where social distancing is not possible to 20 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. These restrictions do not apply to voting precincts, religious entities and schools, according to the order.
In addition to schools, people will still be required to wear face coverings while receiving “close contact personal care services” in such places as salons, barbershops and spas.
Reeves said there will still be restrictions on the number of people who are allowed in restaurants, bars and other businesses. College football games are already happening in Mississippi, and Reeves said people will still be asked to wear masks while attending games. The annual Mississippi State Fair starts next week in Jackson, and masks will be required at that event as well.
The governor said if cases of coronavirus start to rise again, he would consider putting a mask mandate back in place. Cities and towns are welcome to put in place their own mask mandates.
The announcement comes days after a fake letter made to look like it came from Reeves’ office circulated on social media. It announced an end to the mask mandate.
Reeves spokeswoman Renae Eze said Monday that the letter was “absolutely fake.” Those looking for a trusted source on the governor’s pandemic response should stick to the government’s official websites, she said.
The state health department said Wednesday that Mississippi, with a population of about 3 million, has reported more than 98,000 cases and at least 2,969 deaths from COVID-19 as of Tuesday evening. That’s an increase of 552 confirmed cases and 12 deaths from numbers reported the day before, with 10 occurring between Sept. 18 and Sept. 29 and recorded later using death certificates.
Dispatch reporters Yue Stella Yu and Tess Vrbin, and AP reporter Leah Willingham, contributed to the report.
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