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Mayor Young extends mask requirement through Aug.29
On July 3, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54 to grant county mayors in 89 counties the authority to issue local requirements that citizens wear face coverings in public places in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases which have risen substantially in recent weeks.
Gov. Lee encouraged every Tennessean to use a face covering or mask, to socially distance and wash hands frequently. A mandate requiring facial coverings in public indoor spaces went into effect for Dyer County on July 20 and was set to expire on Monday, August 3. Given that the state of public health is still dire, Gov. Lee has extended his authorization for county mayors to extend current orders or issue new orders.
Dyer County Mayor Chris Young has extended the current order requiring facial coverings in certain circumstances in Dyer County, through Aug.29. Mayor Young continues to recognize that there are varying opinions on this issue, but believes that this simple measure is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19.
“During the past two months, we have opened up businesses, traveled outside of our community, enjoyed the company of family and friends, and eased back into guarded normalcy. We needed to do each of these things, and still do, but we must remain cognizant that we are still in the midst of a pandemic,” explained Young. “Active cases in Dyer County rose from 126 on July 1 to 280 as of July 31. A rise in numbers was to be expected. With the opening of schools, we will again be crossing another threshold of more contact. We all want to see an end to this crisis, but in the meantime we need to do what we can to help our friends and neighbors. After much consideration and consultation with local and regional leaders and health experts, the consensus still remains that facial coverings are a necessary safety measure in order to protect our citizens and our economy.
“Facial coverings, along with staying apart and washing hands, are the best and only tools we have available to combat the current spike in cases, which is jeopardizing our medical resources, public health, businesses, government and court operations, schools, and way of life,” Young said. “People are sick, and our hospital systems are becoming overwhelmed. In my nearly 40 years of public service, I have never been faced with a decision of this nature. The novelty of this disease requires daily vigilance and adaptation. More and more data is becoming available which supports the effectiveness of facial coverings to slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19. This continues to be a difficult decision, as it is unpopular with some, but this simple measure can help us combat the spread of this virus. Wearing a facial covering when inside public places and outside public places where social distancing is not possible will help us in our goal of flattening the curve while keeping our economy open. I have confidence that extending this order will help us make the progress needed to relieve our healthcare system and get us closer to normal. I hope that as we navigate these days, we will all do so with respect and kindness for each other. Caring is what has always made our community strong, and this is a time where that trait is needed more than ever.”