CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The mask order for Montgomery County has been extended for another month to the end of March, with new data showing it’s having a significant effect.
On Friday, 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 11:59 p.m. March 27.
“We want to make sure that our most vulnerable population, those 65-and-older who want a COVID-19 vaccination, are fully vaccinated before considering a change in the mask mandate,” Durrett said.
“We have seen a significant downward trend with less deaths and cases per capita than every county that touches Montgomery County, and we are the only one with a mask mandate.”
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.
There are some exceptions to the mask mandate, listed at this link.
The Montgomery County Government website has a host of COVID-19 related information, to include a COVID-19 dashboard, videos, signage, advice and previous mandates.
Correction: The new county order expires March 27. An earlier email from the county gave an incorrect date. The article has been updated.