Bye Bye Masks? Mecklenburg County Mask Mandate May Finally End
Could we finally be at a point where we say goodbye to mandatory masks? There is a positive chance that the Mecklenburg County mask mandate may finally be coming to an end. New Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington made the comment during a commissioners’ meeting Wednesday that if the COVID-19 trends continue to decline over the next week, he would recommend lifting the mandate as early as next Wednesday.
Mecklenburg County offers free and confidential HIV/STD testing at more than 20 sites. Rapid HIV tests are also available for home delivery. Mecklenburg County is adding more clinics to provide PrEP to uninsured/ underinsured Meck residents.
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 8, 2022
That means we could see just one more week of the mandate that’s been in place since August. The initial mandate was lifted May 14, 2021, but the Delta variant led officials to reinstate it a few months later. Mecklenburg is the only county in the area that still has a countywide mandate in place, and even California lifted their statewide mandate last week.
According to Health Director Dr. @Raynard_W, since the omicron peak in Mecklenburg County
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 9, 2022
- Cases are down 65%
- Percent positivity is down 45%
- Hospitalizations are down 30%
If the decline continues, he will recommend the mask mandate be lifted at next Wednesday's meeting pic.twitter.com/xMzf24DK9b
The county’s numbers have been steadily declining since Omicron’s peak in January. Most likely businesses would still be able to implement policies of their own. And as always individuals would be free to wear a mask if they choose to. Do you support the lifting of the Mecklenburg County mask mandate? Or do you feel more comfortable with it in place?
If you are looking for masks Harris Teeter locations are giving out free N95s while supplies last.
