Mecklenburg Commissioners To Consider Mask Mandate In Parks

CHARLOTTE, NC — Mecklenburg County residents could soon be required to wear face coverings inside all county buildings, as well as in county parks. The county's Board of Commissioners is set to discuss the proposal Tuesday evening.

The proposal comes as 13,317 cases of novel coronavirus were confirmed and 154 deaths were reported in Mecklenburg County Tuesday, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Under North Carolina's current mask mandate, which went into effect June 26, face coverings are required in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, when socially distancing is difficult.

The proposal under consideration by the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners would take Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order further, requiring a face covering be worn by all customers, employees and other users indoors of County or Town owned or leased facilities. The proposed order also includes anyone in an "indoor or outdoor situation in which people cannot maintain the CDC recommended social distance, including those in County parks."

According to the draft order, exceptions made for the current statewide executive order would continue to apply to the county order, as well as also include county staff in private offices, as well as when complying with directions of law enforcement officers.

The agenda for the Board of Commissioners meeting may be found here. The July 7 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and a link to view the meeting online is found below.