Face masks will once again be mandated for all indoor public settings in a new order from the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) that goes into effect Friday morning.
Health officials say the change comes as new daily Covid cases surpass 638. The mandate is for everyone aged two and older, no matter their vaccine status, and begins at 7 a.m. Friday.
Masks will be required in all indoor public settings, like bars and restaurants, common areas of hotels, multi-residential buildings, and private clubs. Masks may be removed at restaurants, bars, and other eating/drinking establishments by customers when they are seated.
Masks can also be removed for other activities like doing cardio activity inside a gym, some grooming activities like getting a facial, and theater performances. SCHD recommends outdoor settings for strenuous exercise.
Masks will remain optional in outdoor settings. Though, masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.
“We must have a universal mask mandate in Shelby County, and it needs to happen quickly,” said SCHD director Michelle Taylor. “The studies show that if we at least did that today we could see a slowing in the transmission rate in five to seven days. The mask mandate is absolutely needed to give our hospitals and the residents of Shelby County a fighting chance against the Delta variant.”
Shelby County Health Officer Bruce Randolph said the mandate could be rolled back to a recommendation if improvements are made in rates of Covid positivity, hospitalizations, and deaths. They’ll be relaxed, too, if at least 70 percent of Shelby County residents (age 12 and up) are fully vaccinated, he said.
