What do Raleigh’s face mask rules do? How will they be policed? Answers to questions.
With coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increasing in North Carolina — and in Wake County in particular — the City of Raleigh has issued a proclamation requiring face masks in public, starting Friday.
Raleigh joins Durham County, which has had a face mask order since April 20, and Orange County, which started requiring face masks on June 12. The Town of Knightdale announced on Thursday that it will also require masks, starting Sunday.
The CDC recommends that we all wear cloth face coverings in public to protect us and others from the spread of COVID-19, and that recommendation has been echoed numerous times by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.
There have also been several studies showing the benefits of wearing face coverings, including a review published in the journal Lancet that used data from 172 observational studies and found that wearing face masks reduces the risk of coronavirus infection, as reported by The Washington Post. This week, The News & Observer reported on a UNC study that found that the virus more easily infects the nose than the mouth or throat, backing up the importance of pulling masks up over the nose.
Here are answers to some common questions about Raleigh’s face mask order.
When does Raleigh’s face mask order take effect?
Friday, June 19 at 4 p.m.
Who has to wear a mask under Raleigh’s order?
Everyone in the Raleigh city limits should wear masks whenever they are in contact with people who do not live in their household, or if they are in public or private places where they can’t maintain social distance or where social distancing is not being followed.
What is considered a public space?
The public spaces where you should wear masks include grocery stores and other retail stores, pharmacies, parking lots, sidewalks and on public transit.
What kind of face mask do I have to wear?
You can wear a manufactured face mask or a homemade cloth mask, but it should cover your mouth AND nose.
What if I don’t know how to make a face mask?
Almost any cloth item that can be tied around your mouth and nose can be considered a face covering. The order suggests using scarves, bandannas or neck gaiters if you don’t have a cloth mask. You can even cut up T-shirts, sweatshirts or towels to make a covering that can be tied around your head.
There are some ideas online for how to make masks that don’t require sewing.
Whatever you use for a face covering, it should be laundered between periods of heavy use.
Do I have to wear a face mask when I go for a walk or run?
You do not have to wear a face mask if you are exercising outdoors alone (or with someone from your household) as long as you are physically distanced from other people.
Do people who work in stores have to wear face masks?
Yes. Anyone who works in a restaurant, grocery store, retail store, nail salon, hair salon, tattoo parlor or other personal care or grooming establishment in the city of Raleigh is required to wear a face covering (covering the mouth and nose) while on duty.
Will businesses require me to wear a face mask when I go inside?
Many businesses already do, but the new order from the city of Raleigh recommends that businesses require customers to wear face coverings while inside the establishment.
Do kids have to wear a face mask?
Children under 12 years old are not required to wear a face covering.
If I have to wear a face mask inside a restaurant, how can I eat?
Take the mask off when eating or drinking, but wear it other times.
Who is exempt from the face mask order?
There are some exemptions to the order.
▪ People who cannot wear a mask because of medical or behavioral conditions
▪ People whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering.
▪ People in private or individual offices.
▪ People who must comply with the direction of law enforcement officers to remove a face covering.
▪ People in situations where a face covering isn’t practical, such as receiving dental care or swimming.
▪ People who are only around members of the same household.
How long is Raleigh’s face mask order in effect?
The order is in effect until modified or rescinded.
Do I have to wear a face mask in other Wake County towns?
Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has said that most Wake County mayors are not in favor of a face mask order. The exception is Knightdale, which announced on Thursday that it will require face masks in public spaces starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21. The Town of Garner said on Thursday that it will not require face coverings in public, but the town leaders “strongly recommend” them.
What happens if I don’t wear a face mask?
Baldwin has said that people who don’t wear a mask won’t be fined or arrested, but that law enforcement officers are “strongly encouraged to educate and encourage voluntary compliance.”
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
