Raleigh to require face masks in effort to slow the spread of coronavirus
The city of Raleigh will require people to wear face masks starting at 4 p.m. Friday in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The emergency proclamation, signed by Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin on Wednesday, requires everyone in the city to wear a face covering that goes over the mouth and nose whenever they are “in contact with other people who are not household members in public or private spaces where it is not possible to maintain social distance or where recommended social distancing practices are not being followed.”
In the order, law enforcement officers are “strongly encouraged to educate and encourage voluntary compliance.” Baldwin said residents who don’t wear a mask won’t be fined or arrested. She sees this as an opportunity to “educate the public.”
People have been asked to protect themselves in public since COVID-19 started to spread in the state in March. Masks and face coverings weren’t required, but strongly encouraged. So how does that make things any different now that there is a proclamation?
“We asked, now we’re telling,” Baldwin said in a press conference Wednesday. “And I think that’s the difference. Issuing an order state of emergency sends a different message than asking people to do something. I think this really takes the magnitude of this and says this is important, folks. We need compliance.”
Baldwin stressed that this is a Raleigh-only ordinance. Most of the mayors with the Wake County Mayors Association are not in favor of the proclamation, Baldwin said. Baldwin and Knightdale Mayor James Roberson were the only two Wake County mayors who wanted to move forward with requiring face coverings, she said.
Where are masks to be worn?
The proclamation lists places like grocery stores, businesses, parking lots, sidewalks and pharmacies. Social distancing is still recommended even while wearing a mask.
It also states that “all restaurant, personal care, grooming, tattoo and retail employees and staff shall wear a face covering while on duty.”
Raleigh follows Durham and Orange counties in requiring face coverings. GoTriangle bus drivers in Durham have not been asked to enforce passengers to wear masks and it’s assumed that drivers in Raleigh won’t be asked to do the same.
“Because of the way the buses are set up, we ask that they wear it,” Baldwin said. “But we’re not going to turn someone down who might need to get to work or needs to get somewhere. We haven’t been turning them down. “
Raleigh mayor talks to Glenwood South business owners
Gov. Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, have emphasized masks to slow the coronavirus pandemic in North Carolina.
North Carolina entered Phase Two of its reopening plan on May 22. It allows restaurants and salons to reopen at half capacity. This past weekend, hundreds of people were on the streets of Glenwood South, near downtown Raleigh, waiting to get into restaurants and walking around. Most were not maintaining a social distance of six feet apart or wearing face coverings.
Having the proclamation go into effect on Friday instead of immediately gives people “time to prepare” Baldwin said, acknowledging that Friday nights is when most people go out. Baldwin hopes to not see a repeat of the crowds at Glenwood South.
Baldwin said she had conversations with some of Glenwood South’s business owners.
“Some businesses have done a great job with social distancing,” Baldwin said. “MoJoe’s being the perfect example. Others not so much. I have spoken with them, I have spoken with their attorney and basically told them all eyes will be on you Friday night. Don’t let what happened happen again.”
Baldwin was asked at Wednesday’s press conference if she would consider stricter restaurant rules if the Glenwood South area is packed again this weekend.
“I’m going to not answer that right now,” Baldwin said. “Because I’m hoping they will comply, but there will be consequences if that doesn’t happen.”
Mask, face covering exemptions
Here are the mask rule exemptions:
- Religious reasons
- Medical conditions
- In individual private offices
- Children younger than 12
- When dining in restaurants
- While swimming
- While receiving dental services
- If asked by law enforcement to remove it
Face coverings are also exempt for “individual exercise outside, or while walking or exercising with other people from the same household, as long as social distance from others is maintained.”
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 4:10 PM.
