Cary will require masks in all indoor public places. Here’s when the mandate starts.
Cary will require anyone over the age of 5, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in all indoor spaces starting this week, as part of a new indoor mask mandate Mayor Harold Weinbrecht issued Monday.
The order will cover all public and private indoor spaces within the town’s limits, and will go into effect Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. It applies to people “anytime they will be in contact with others outside of their household,” according to a news release.
Cary joins Raleigh and Knightdale in requiring people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces. Some Wake County towns have said they will not require them at this time. Others have said they will make decisions about mandating masks in the coming days. Wake County is expected to announce a mask mandate this week.
Weinbrecht issued a new state of emergency and said in a release he is requiring mask wearing due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“This new phase of the pandemic has brought some old challenges roaring back, but our experience in 2020 taught us an important lesson: Masks work,” Weinbrecht said. “Because Cary citizens decided to protect each other by masking up last year, we were able to keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. With the delta variant spreading quickly, we need that community spirit now more than ever.”
Weinbrecht also urged Cary residents who haven’t gotten vaccinated to get their shots as soon as possible.
“Masks are important right now, and vaccines are our best and quickest way out of the danger zone,” he said.
Cary previously had required people working at and visiting town-operated facilities to wear masks.
Under the new mask mandate issued by Weinbrecht, there will be some exceptions for people engaging in religious, worship or funeral services; exercising their First Amendment rights; or suffering from medical or disability conditions that make it difficult to breathe while wearing a face covering.
For a full list of exceptions to wearing a face covering, see the full declaration.
Wake County has reported 596 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Among people 12 years and older, 75% of Wake County’s population has had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 70% is considered fully vaccinated.
This story was originally published August 16, 2021 at 5:27 PM.
