Charlotte Changes Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Places
Charlotte is taking a step backward and moving to face coverings indoors being a thing once again.
Face coverings will be required in indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status. The proclamation goes into effect on August 18th, at 5 p.m., and will be in effect through September 1st, unless sooner rescinded or terminated. This is due to the rise in coronavirus cases.
According to the City of Charlotte, the Mecklenburg County Board of Health will be holding a special meeting today (8/18) at 3 p.m. to discuss and vote on an additional Public Health Rule requiring Face Coverings for all of Mecklenburg County. If passed, the Public Health Rule would go into effect in a matter of ten days.
There are exceptions to the face-covering mandate. Face Coverings do not need to be worn by someone who:
- Should not wear a Face Covering due to any medical or behavioral condition or disability (including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the Face Covering without assistance);
- Is actively eating or drinking;
- Is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible;
- Is giving a speech or performance for a broadcast, or to an audience, where they maintain a distance of at least 20 feet from the audience (the audience is still required to wear a Face Covering if indoors);
- Is temporarily removing their Face Coverings at work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulations or workplace safety guidelines;
- Has found their Face Covering is impeding visibility to operate equipment or a vehicle.
For more information about the mask mandate, the vaccine, and COVID-19, please click here. You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or 2 weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. (Currently, J&J might be on pause) You should keep using all the tools available to protect yourself and others until you are fully vaccinated like wearing your mask, washing hands, and staying six feet away.
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