CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The emergency order requiring employees of businesses open to the public to wear masks is being lifted this week in Montgomery County.

County Mayor Jim Durrett has, however, determined that anyone from the general public entering a county-owned facility will be required to wear a mask, according to a news release from spokeswoman Michelle Newell.

“Our data indicates that the mandate is no longer necessary,” Durrett said in the release. “Because of the high volume of people that enter many of our county facilities every day, we will require masks of the general public entering all county-owned facilities.

The City of Clarksville offices and Clarksville-Montgomery County School System facilities will also continue to require visitors to wear masks.

“I still recommend City employees and visitors to wear masks when they enter our buildings and keep them on in any setting where they cannot maintain social distancing,” Pitts said in a news release. “Mask-wearing is still an effective way of preventing the spread of this disease, and we need to keep looking out for one another.”

But the lifting of the order doesn’t mean people should stop wearing masks, Durrett said.

“We highly encourage business owners and the general public to continue to wear masks when social distancing cannot be achieved. This virus has not gone away, and we all need to be mindful of those we are around,” he said.

The local order will expire at 12:01 a.m., Sept. 29. However, many businesses will continue to require that employees and customers wear masks.

Coronavirus numbers

Here are the updated Montgomery County numbers as of Sunday, Sept. 27:

  • 3,111 total cases since March 6
  • 233 active cases
  • 120 total hospitalizations
  • 44 total deaths
  • 39,996 total negative lab results

How to get a free coronavirus test

Free COVID-19 testing is offered by the Montgomery County Health Department in a temporary location at Civitan Park, 650 Bellamy Lane, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Follow the signs to the drive-up testing site.