CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In response to a continued rise in local COVID-19 numbers, the mask order for Montgomery County has been extended past Christmas to near the end of December.

On Wednesday, County Mayor Jim Durrett signed an order extending Emergency Order #21, which requires that all residents wear face masks in public.

The mandate will now continue through 12:01 a.m. Dec. 29.

What the mask order says

The Montgomery County order requires cloth or other face coverings that cover the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of the virus during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other action.

Face coverings have to be worn within all publicly accessible areas of commercial business establishments; persons present in the public areas of all Montgomery County and City of Clarksville government facilities, including Clarksville-Montgomery County School System; public outdoor areas where social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained and within publicly-accessible areas of business offices where there is direct interaction with the public and social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained.

The order also requires any business open to the public to post a sign that can be found on the Montgomery County website, requiring masks on all public entrances.

Numbers getting worse

As of Dec. 8, Montgomery County had 783 active COVID-19 cases.

The last 14 days (Nov. 25-Dec. 8), of data for Montgomery County reveals the following:

  • An average of 103 new cases per day
  • 1,441 new cases out of 8,135 tests
  • 18 hospitalizations
  • 15 COVID-19 deaths
  • 206 new school age cases (age 5-18)

During the previous 14 days (Nov. 11-24), Montgomery County had:

  • An average of 81 new cases per day
  • 1,175 positives out of 6,950 tests.
  • 10 hospitalizations
  • 14 COVID-19 deaths
  • 156 new school age cases (age 5-18)

Exceptions to mask order

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.

COVID-19 tests are provided free of charge by the Montgomery County Health Department weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Civitan Park, located at 650 Bellamy Lane.

The Montgomery County Government web site has a host of COVID-19 related information, to include a COVID-19 dashboard, videos, signage, advice and previous mandates. You can also call 931-648-5787 for questions.