CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Montgomery County has joined the list of Tennessee counties that require everyone to wear masks in public.

County Mayor Jim Durrett on Friday afternoon issued Emergency Executive Order #11 requiring that, starting Monday, all residents and visitors wear face coverings in public to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from county spokeswoman Michelle Newell. The exceptions to wearing a face-covering are outlined in Gov. Bill Lee’s previous Executive Order #54.

The latest order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. July 20 and is set expire at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 27, requires cloth or other face coverings that cover the nose and mouth to impede the spread of the virus during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other action, within all publicly accessible areas of commercial business establishments; public outdoor areas where social distancing of at least 6 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 6 feet cannot be maintained, the release said.

Businesses and facilities will be required to post signs requesting that patrons wear face coverings. Previous orders mandated that anyone working in a business that served the public needs to wear a face covering. Those orders will be vacated and replaced by the new order. Suggested wording for the signage can be found at mcgtn.org.

According to Clarksville Now news partner WKRN, Channel 2, the other Middle Tennessee counties requiring masks are Davidson, Williamson, Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, Rutherford, Coffee, Dickson, Maury, Putnam, Hickman, Marshall, Wilson. In other parts of the state, they’re required in Shelby, Hamilton, Sevier, Knox, Greene, and Washington counties.

Local leaders discuss mandate

On Friday, Durrett met with City Mayor Joe Pitts as well as Sheriff John Fuson, Clarksville Police Chief David Crockarell, and Director of Medical Services Jimmie Edwards to review the mandate. Durrett also conferred with Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Millard House and Austin Peay State University President Alisa White.

“I realize there are varying opinions about wearing a face-covering,” Durrett said in the release. “The use of face coverings in a preferred alternative to the closing of businesses and preventing schools from re-opening, which could likely become necessary if some action is not taken. This is the best defense against coronavirus we have at this time. The great thing is that we can all play a role in stopping the spread of the virus, and I have no doubt that our community prefers the use of face coverings over continued closures of schools and business.”

“As always, I appreciate Mayor Durrett bringing the city to the table and asking for our input,” Pitts said in the release. “We know we are in this together and I also agree that we need to do what we can to slow the spread of this virus to have the best outcome for our citizens.”

Fuson and Crockarell agreed that overall, people have been following the rules during this outbreak, and they are committed to having their officers work first to educate and encourage the public to wear face coverings before giving citations.

National companies such as Walmart, Target, Publix and Kroger this week announced mask mandates.

The data will continue to be reviewed by local leaders and health officials and the local order will be extended or ceased accordingly. For more information, visit mcgtn.org or call 931-648-5787.