East Point joins list of cities requiring face masks

EAST POINT, Ga. — Everyone over the age of 2 in the city of East Point will be required to wear a mask in public starting tonight at midnight.

The city council voted 6-2 on Monday to adopt the ordinance, which will last until the declared state of emergency related to COVID-19 ends. Currently the state’s Public Health State of Emergency is scheduled to end on Aug. 11.

Anyone who is caught without a face mask could face a fine of up to $75. Fines can be imposed beginning on Monday, July 13.

“As the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to increase, we must take action to ensure that we are doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “We must follow the science, data and recommendations of medical experts and do all that we can to save lives and protect the health, welfare and safety of our community.”

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East Point joins Athens and Savannah and several other cities across the U.S. in implementing similar rules.

The ordinance rules are as follows:

• Patrons entering a commercial establishment in the City must wear a face covering or mask while inside the establishment. This does not apply to religious establishments; however; the use of face coverings are strongly recommended in religious establishments.
• All restaurants, retail stores, salons, barbershops, grocery stores and pharmacies in the City must require all employees to wear a face covering or mask at all times while engaging in face to face interaction with the public.
• All establishments subject to this ordinance must post a sign in a clearly visible location near the front entrance notifying the public that per the ordinance, all persons must wear a mask or face covering and that violators are subject to a fine of up to $75.
• Any person who is unable to safely wear a face covering due to age, underlying health condition(s), or is unable to remove the face covering without the assistance of others is not required to wear a face covering/mask.
• Face coverings are not required in the following circumstances:

1. In personal vehicles
2. When a person is alone in an enclosed space or only with other members of their household
3. During outdoor physical activity, but the active person must maintain proper social distancing at a minimum of six (6) feet from others
4. While eating, drinking or smoking
5. When a licensed health provider has determined that wearing a face covering causes or aggravates a health condition in the specific individual
6. When wearing a face covering would prevent the receipt of personal services
7. When a person is younger than two (2) years old

Athens-Clarke County unanimously passes mandatory mask ordinance It follows the lead of Savannah, which was the first to make masks mandatory.

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